* Epic encounter for Ekhaya FC coach Enos Chatama so far having stopped in their tracks seasoned TNM Super League sides
* Such as Mighty Tigers, Civil Service United, Karonga United, Mzuzu City Hammers,, Creck Sporting and the 0-0 draw with Dedza Dynamos on Saturday
By Duncan Mlanjira
Having stopped in their tracks seasoned TNM Super League sides Mighty Tigers (2-0); Civil Service United (1-0); Karonga United (2-0); Mzuzu City Hammers (3-1) — and drawing 0-0 with Blue Eagles and 0-0 with Dedza Dynamos — The Cowboys, Ekhaya FC are to be tested as a yardstick if they are on the prowl as giant killers on Wednesday when take on giants Nyasa Big Bullets.
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Coming hot on the heels of hammering Mzuzu City Hammers two weeks ago and drawing 0-0 with Dedza Dynamos last Saturday, The Cowboys’ coach Enos Chatama played down over this very exciting encounter against the giants at Kamuzu Stadium.
The game is set to be an emotional one for Chatama, who coached the People’s Team’s reserve side before being roped in by Ekhaya when they got promoted into the top flight league after winning the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League 2024 championship.
Enos Chatama
On Saturday, Chatama played down on the prospects of meeting the current TNM Super League 2025 leaders when asked by Ekhaya FC Media, preferring to dwell on their current form, saying they are fulfilling their ambition to make their mark in the elite league — and stay put in it going forward.
“This was another tough match after playing away where we have earned 4 points,”he said. “We came with a positive mind to earn all three points but all in all the 0-0 draw is a fair result considering we played under difficult conditions.
“We failed to play our usual flair of passing football because our opponents chose to a kick-and-run [strategy where] they sent balls straight upfront to avoid our midfield,” he said — but when asked of their assignment, he just responded by hinting that they will work on it as its own strategy.
Chatama’s goalkeeper, Eliasi Missi, delivered a standout performance, pulling off a series of brilliant saves to keep the hosts at bay — thus earned him being named the Player of the Match.
Meanwhile, Nyasa Big Bullets have travelled back to base having been beaten 0-2 by Silver Strikers on Sunday in the FCB-at-30 Trophy at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe — a special match organised by First Capital Bank (FCB) in celebrating their 30 years of operation in Malawi.
A report by Silver Strikers Media, indicates that the Bankers made a wholesome change to its starting line up as six reserve team players were included in its squad whereby two were featured in the match.
The TNM Super League 2024 champions scored as early as the 9th minute through Binwell Katinji before doubling the lead after 32 minutes from captain of the day Innocent Shema’s spot kick.
Nyasa Big Bullets Media reported that coach Peter Mponda, who led the Bankers to their TNM Super League title after 11 years, was “very disappointed with the result” as they failed to break Silver’s resolve up the end.
Other TNM Super League 2025 results on Saturday were Creck Sporting Club beating Moyale Barracks 1-0 (Frank Phiri 7’); MAFCO FC beating Mighty Tigers 3-1 through Prince Kachere brace (2’, 88’) and Auspicious Kadzongola (60’) and Moyale’s consolation by Phillip Chavula (64’).
On Sunday, Mzuzu City Hammers drew 0-0 with Chitipa United while Mighty Wanderers lost an opportunity to regain leadership of the table by drawing 1-1 with Karonga United at the Nomads’s dreaded away venue, Karonga Stadium, where they were ousted of the Airtel Top 8 2025 by the same opponents.
Nyasa Big Bullets regained their spot at the top last Wednesday after beating Moyale FC 3-0 to create a 2-point lead over Wanderers, which the Nomads have reduced to one after Sunday’s draw.
Maintaining their 3rd place, Ekhaya FC now have amassed 20 points — four ahead of Blue Eagles (4th/16pts), who share points with Karonga United, who have move to 5th, displacing the 2025 champions Silver Strikers (6th/15pts).
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Debutantes Songwe United are wallowing at the rock bottom with just a single point having lost nine from 10 games in which they have conceded 29 goals and scoring just three.
From the 1-3 loss to Ekhaya and the 0-0 draw with Chitipa United, Mzuzu City Hammers stay rooted on 15th place with just 8 points from 9 games of two wins, two draw and five losses.
Despite beaten Mighty Tigers 3-1 on Saturday, MAFCO failed to dislodge their opponents as they share 10 points but Tigers are 13th with the Salima-based MAFCO at 12th.
The race for the TNM Super League 2025 supremacy is as fierce as ever, whose campaign includes the title, earning qualification into the Airtel Top 8 and avoiding relegation of three teams — 14th, 15th and 16th.
So far, Ekhaya FC, who were promoted into the elite league alongside usual participants Blue Eagles — who got relegated in 2023 season but claimed back their space in just one season in the Central Region League — are safe as they now cautiously eyeing the title.
Coach Chatama was just being modest in saying so far they are fulfilling their ambition to make their mark in the elite league — and stay put in it going forward.
* Weather update
