Mafco dents KB’s home record: Narrow escapes for Lions, Njenjete in Malawi TNM Super League
Zomba based Red Lions and Epac FC, alias Njenjete zaku Lilongwe had narrow escapes on Saturday, October 5, 2013 when they both scored in added time to rescue points against their respective opponents in the ongoing TNM Super League.
But there was no escape for all conquering Kamuzu Barrack, who suffered their first defeat at Dedza Stadium after being gunned down 4-2 by fellow soldiers Mafco.
At Silver Stadium in Lilongwe’s Area 47, visiting Red Lions escaped by the skin of their teeth as they struck seconds from the final whistle to settle for a 2-all draw against determined Mponela United.
Lions were the first to roar after 22 minutes Kelvin Katema headed in a corner kick by Mphatso Ngwira before Fabio Kapinde leveled for Mponela with a header from a rebound five minutes to the break.
Kapinde appeared to have secured full points for the league rookies three minutes to time, when he hit his second goal after receiving a pass from Mude Geoffrey.
However, with just seconds remaining on the clock, Boniface Kaulesi rescued a point for the soldiers after scoring from close range.
“It is disappointing to give away the full points in this manner but that’s how football goes. The late goal came as a result of communication breakdown in the box, where we had too many players,” lamented Mponela coach Benjamin Kumwenda after the final whistle.
Red Lions team manager Alexander Saka admitted the lions were at the receiving end against their hosts, attributing their disjointed performance to the sickness and absence of some key players.
“We did not play as a team today. About five of our key players including myself just developed diarrhea ahead of the game and we were forced to rest some of players. The other sick players were just forced to play,” Saka told Nyasa Times after the whistle.
Playing a stone-throw away at Civo Stadium, Njenjete needed a last minute penalty kick by Ishmael Thindwa to cancel Blue Eagles’ 57th minute strike. Marksman John Banda scored for the cops against the run of play before Epac were awarded penalty in added time following a foul by midfielder Dan Phiri on Mussa Manyenje.
At the dreaded Dedza Stadium, the Soccer Instructors from Salima offered Kamuzu Barracks some football lessons with a 4-2 beating. Hassan Chapola, Welani Nyirenda, Zasha Mnong’oneza and Callisto Kalinda were the men on target for Mafco while Harvey Nkacha and Manase Chiesa scored for KB.
Elsewhere, Blantyre United started their tour of the north with a 2-1 win over Mzuzu United but there were no goals in the South, where Big Bullets played a goal-less draw against Civo United at Kamuzu Stadium with Azam Tigers holding Mighty Wanderers at Kalulu Stadium.
The action continues Sunday, October 06, 2013 with Silver Strikers hosting Red Lions at Silver Stadium and Blantyre United entertaining Moyale Barracks at Mzuzu Stadium. Evirom will be at home against Civo at Kamuzu Stadium.
