Last two NBM Women’s Premiership fixtures are deciders for the runners-up spot

* The spot is being occupied by Ascent Soccer, who have 35 points, four ahead of Nyasa Big Bullets Women at 31

* Thus it’s a matter of avoiding dropping points, especially for Ascent Soccer, who are away to be hosted by unpredictable 4th-placed Kukoma Ntopwa Women

* The match between Kukoma Ntopwa and visiting Ascent Soccer is a fixture of interest for Nyasa Big Bullets Women

By Duncan Mlanjira

With Silver Strikers already declared champions of the inaugural National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership, the remaining Match Week fixtures are deciders on who will claim the runners-up slot.

The spot is being occupied by Ascent Soccer, who have 35 points, four ahead of Nyasa Big Bullets Women at 31 — thus it’s a matter of avoiding dropping points, especially for Ascent Soccer.

In the Match Week 17 to be played tomorrow, John Chilembwe Day holiday, Ascent Soccer are away to be hosted by unpredictable 4th-placed Kukoma Ntopwa Women at Mpira Stadium in a morning fixture from 11h00.

Kukoma Ntopwa have 27 points and will also not afford to drop any point in the last two matches since behind them are MDF Lionesses and Civil Service Women, both with 25 points.

That means the match between Kukoma Ntopwa and visiting Ascent Soccer is a fixture of interest for Nyasa Big Bullets Women as they will be keeping their fingers crossed that the hosts should carry the day while they also work hard to beat Civil Service Women at the same venue, Mpira Stadium, in the afternoon fixture from 14h30.

It will be a matter of mathematical calculations since if Ascent Soccer drop five of their potential remaining six, and the Bullets Women win both, the People’s Team shall claim the runners-up spot.

Another scenario is that if they lose both of their remaining fixtures, and Kukoma Ntopwa triumph in their assignments, the Bullets Women would be displaced from the 3rd place.

Three teams were relegated from the inaugural season, Moyale Sisters at position 10, Topik Academy (9th) and MK Academy (8th), who will be playing to win to salvage their pride as they move on to the second tier regional leagues.

Moyale Academy are up against Topik Academy at Luwinga in a morning fixture from 11h00 while MK Academy will host champions Silver Strikers at the same venue in the afternoon (14h30).

Meanwhile, MDF Lionesses will host 7th-placed Mighty Wanderers Queens (23 points) at Champion Stadium, who will be aiming for a win to move up the ladder — that is if Civil Service Women, who are ahead of them sharing at 25 points with MDF Lionesses, lose to Bullets Women.

The champions, Silver Strikers Ladies, who have an unassailable 42 points earned from 14 wins and just two losses, will be enjoying the guard of honour in their last two matches. And they have produced the season’s Golden Boot winner, Deborah Henry, who has 22 goals to her name.

Deborah went the last three consecutive games without scoring and if used in the next two matches, she definitely will be aiming to increase her tally and probably earn another call up in the Malawi Scorchers.

Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili included Deborah Henry in his 32-member provisional squad that prepared for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) qualifying matches against Angola.

It was after she ended the first round of the NBM Women’s Premiership with 14 goals and was also the most decorated Player of the Match accolade winner after the Bankers concluded the first round on a 100% winning record.

The Bankers also lead in team goals scored, 45 against nine conceded followed by Ascent Soccer with 33 scored and 10 conceded and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women with 25 scored and 11 conceded.