Greedy Lions gulp down servants: Malawi TNM Super League
Squarely a week after suffering their first league loss at the hands of Mighty Wanderers, the roaring Red Lions from the old capital were in total devastating mood on Sunday, August 4, 2013 when they greedily devoured Civil Service United (Civo)- defeating the civil servants 3-0 in a TNM Super League match played at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
Having not conceded any goal in their previous four league matches, Civo started the game impressively and would have been one-up in the eight minute, when Noel ‘Amfumu’ Mkandawire was blocked in the box as he unleashed a thunderbolt.
The league leaders responded a few minutes later with Dickson’s Mbetewa Junior’s goal-bound header from a Lot Chawinga cross cleared on the goal-line by alert defender Pilirani Makupe.
That was a sign of danger for the servants, who eventually fell behind after Boniface Kaulesi’s fine connection of a Pearson Panje cross in the 14th minute.
Mbetewa added the second eight minutes to the break after heading in a free kick by Mphatso Ngwira.
Upon resumption, Civo coach Thom Nkorongo made a double substitution- taking off Mkandawire and Maxwell Mwanyongo for John Chizuze and Jabulani Linje but that did not stop the Lions from claiming the third- courtesy of Kumbukani Mwambene’s long range strike.
Lions coach Mike Kumanga praised his charges for a mission well accomplished.
“God is doing wonders for our team and I am proud of the boys for the good,” said Kumanga.
Nkorongo attributed the loss to lack of concentration but also said the two-week break had taken away the rhythm from his charges.
Coach versus commentator
The Civo coach had a brief spar with MBC sports commentator Peter Fote, who asked him whether he had not told his boys what to do during pep-talk.
When the coach responded he spoke to his charges, the soccer commentator fired the question: “So the boys did not listen.”
At this juncture, Nkorongo lost his cool and asked the commentator to ask as if he was a journalist: “Mudzifunsa mafunso ngati ndinu atolankhani,” said the coach before abandoning the interview and pushing the reporter.
The reporter shouted on air: “Wathawa Nkorongo,” meaning the coach has run away.
In other fixtures, Mponela United played a goal-less draw against Blue Eagles at Silver Stadium with Kamuzu Barracks edging fellow soldiers Moyale Barracks 2-1 at Dedza Stadium. Azam Tigers beat Blantyre United 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium.
