* They have clinched the title with three more games left to wrap up the season of this 10-team top tier women’s football system
* The Silver Ladies have also produced the season’s leading top scorer with an unassailable 22 goals to her name, Deborah Henry
By Duncan Mlanjira
After a dominant campaign in which they have only lost once in 15 matches, Silver Strikers Ladies have been confirmed as the inaugural champions of the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership after beating Kukoma Ntopwa Women 4-0 on Sunday.
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They have amassed 42 points and are 10 points ahead of runners-up, Ascent Soccer, who earned free 3 points on Sunday after their opponents, relegated MK Academy failed to turn up at Ascent Ground in Lilongwe.
The champions have clinched the title with three more games left to wrap up the season of this 10-team top tier women’s football system that was very competitive and exposed massive hidden talent ready to be tapped for the national team, the Scorchers.
The Silver Ladies have also produced the season’s leading top scorer with an unassailable 22 goals to her name, Deborah Henry, who did not find the net on Sunday against Kukoma Ntopwa.
Deborah Henry
The leaders took the lead in the 5th minute through on own goal by goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo having been troubled by Silver’s Ireen Khumalo.
They extended the lead in the 11th through Yamikani Mhango and again assisted by Ireen Khumalo with the assist before making in 3-0 two minutes later through another OG by Kukoma’s Anne Botha having been troubled by Wezie Mvula.
Just when it looked it would it at 3-0, the Silver Ladies scored their 4th in the 90+4 minutes through Grace Kakangula assisted by Rose Mvula.
On third place with 28 points, chasing for the runners-up spot behind Ascent Soccer’s 32 points, are FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, who beat relegated Topic Academy 2-1 at FAM’s Luwinga Football School of Excellence in Mzuzu.
It was an interesting match since the hosts gave the country’s football giants a scare by taking the lead as early as the 7th minute through a solo effort by Cecilia Nzima — a lead they maintained as far as the 76th minute when the visitors equalised.
Mary Chavinda made a good run after receiving a long pass from Bernadetta Mkandawire from the back but the equaliser seemed to have energised the hosts, who threw away all defensive strategy they employed throughout the game to start attacking.
However, Chavinda claimed her brace and the Bullets Women’s the lead in the 84th minute following a well delivered pass from Carol Mulenzo.
Meanwhile, MDF Lionesses beat relegated Moyale Sisters 4-0 to displace Kukoma Ntopwa on 4th place. They scored the first two goals in a space of a minute, first through international Sabina Thomu in the 23rd followed by Ruth Tambala (24′).
Both were assisted by Catherine Kachala while Salome Vinkhumbo made in 3-0 five minutes later before Eltech Phiri made it 4-0 in the 30th.
On 6th place are Mighty Wanderers Queens with 23 points, who displaced Civil Service Women after beating them 2-0 through a first goal by Tawina Kawaga in the 48th following a beautiful strike in the box.
The Civil Women earned a penalty in the 64th when Grace Khunga handled the ball in the box but Vitumbiko Mkandawire spot kick hit the post and the ball ricocheted into the pitch and cleared away.
Four minutes later, Wanderers went two up when Esther January collected a loose ball from Atuweni Njilima, made a brilliant turn and beat the goalkeeper with a left footed shot.
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