Sama Tanjong scored the first goal
* Silver Strikers maintains lead after beating Ekhaya 3-0 while Nyasa Big Bullets are 3rd sharing 26 points with Wanderers having beaten Karonga 1-0
* Blue Eagles have been pushed to 4th place after losing 1-2 to city rivals Civil Service United, who have since moved from relegation zone 15th to 11th
* Leaders Silver will face 13th-placed Dedza Dynamos in Matchweek 14 as Wanderers date Red Lions (6th) and the Bullets facing LUANAR Mitundu
By Duncan Mlanjira
Reigning top flight league champions, Mighty Wanderers — who lost the leadership of the FDH Bank Premiership when they drew 1-1 with Creck Sporting in Matchweek 12 — have moved from 3rd place to 2nd after beating Kamuzu Barrack 2-0 away at Civo Stadium on Sunday.
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Goals from Cameroonian Sama Thierry Tanjong in the 13th minute and Emmanuel Nyirenda’s in the first half stoppage time, secured the Nomads to amass 26 points.
They share points Nyasa Big Bullets, who beat Karonga 1-0 also on Sunday through Ephraim Kondowe’s 38th minute strike at Karonga Stadium, the dreaded venue for visiting teams.
After losing 1-2 to city rivals Civil Service United at home Nankhaka, Blue Eagles have been pushed to 4th place. The result — through goals from Joseph Ziwa (37) and Saulos Moyo (47) — helped Civil Service United to move from the relegation zone’s 15th place to 11th.
Meanwhile, Silver Strikers maintained their lead of the log table after beating Ekhaya 3-0 through a brace from Zebron Kalima (60’, 62’) and Emmanuel Allan scored in the 90+2 minutes.
With 17 points, Ekhaya have since moved from 7th to 9th, displaced by Chitipa United with 19 points, who beat LUANAR Mitundu 1-0 through a penalty strike from Olamba Ngese in the 60th minute.
With two matches left to wrap up the season, the relegation zone is now occupied by Karonga United (14th/12pts), Kamuzu Barracks (15th/11pts) and Creck Sporting (16th/6pts).
Mighty Wanderers head coach Bob Mpinganjira, who is expected to lead his charges against Tanzanian giants Simba in September in the CAF Champions League campaign, praised his players for their hard work after securing the victory over Kamuzu Barracks.
Mpinganjira said the match was difficult, with Kamuzu Barracks relying on long balls and physical football, but commended his players for working hard to secure maximum points.
“It was a very tough game. The team was just playing long balls, and they were too physical — but I must commend my players for working very, very hard, and we have collected three points.”
Mpinganjira, thus said the victory should give his players confidence and motivate them to maintain consistency in their upcoming matches.
“We won today. I think it should encourage the guys to win again next weekend so that the consistency is there,” he said and looking ahead of the CAF Champions League campaign, the coach said the team has quality players capable of competing at continental level.
“So far, we have got good players who can play in that competition — we just have to encourage them, and we don’t have different preparations for that.
“We will do what we always do. We just need the motivation and encouragement,” he said.
For Matchweek 14, Mighty Wanderers will host 6th-placed Red Lions (19pts) at Mpira Stadium on Saturday as the log table leaders Silver will face 13th-placed Dedza Dynamos at Silver Stadium on Sunday.
Straight from being away at Karonga Stadium, 3rd-placed Nyasa Big Bullets are on the road again to face LUANAR Mitundu (8th) at Dedza Stadium on Sunday.
On Saturday, Blue Eagles are away at Civo Stadium to meet 5th-placed Masters FC (21pts) on; Moyale (10th/17pts) v Kamuzu Barracks at Mzuzu Stadium; and Creck Sporting up against Ekhaya FC at Nankhaka.
On Sunday, Civil Service United will host MAFCO at Civo Stadium while Karonga United will date Chitipa United in a derby to be played at Karonga Stadium.
Fans can relive the Matchweek 13 action and watch live Matchweek 14 assignments on FIFA+ through DAZN’s https://www.dazn.com/en-MW/competition/Competition:3gp6ls97f1m51ohtkua36lj81.—Additional reporting on Wanderers by Innocent Manda, Malawi News Agency
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