Fasting Sulumba rescues point for BT United: Malawi TNM Super League
In a Sunday of stalemates, fasting striker Muhamad Sulumba came off the bench and scored with his first touch of the ball to rescue a point for struggling Blantyre United, alias Mphembedzu, who were trailing Epac FC in a TNM Super League encounter played Sunday, July 13, 2014 at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
Smarting from a 4-0 defeat at Blue Eagles the previous day, Mphembedzu from Blantyre found themselves trailing Njenjete zaku Lilongwe after Mabvuto Chipolopolo’s 56th minute strike against the run of play.
Soon after the goal, Blantyre United’s veteran coach Alex Masanjala introduced Sulumba for Taonga Malenga and seconds after coming on, Sulumba, who is observing the Islmaic holy month of Ramadan scored with his first touch of the ball to ensure Mphembedzu went back to the commercial city with at least a point.
The visitors had a major setback midway into the last half when defender Wachimwa Sadick was given a straight red card by Lilongwe based referee Anold Maseko for kicking Epac’s Ibrahim Sadick in the face while trying to kick the ball.
Although there was a foul, many felt the referee overacted to the situation, considering Sadick did not have any booking prior to the incident. Some reports, which Nyasa Times did not verify indicated the referee accidentally flashed the red card instead of a yellow.
Masanjala said he was glad his boys managed to salvage a point after the previous day’s fire baptism.
“Yesterday, it was a one sided affair but today’s game was well balanced. However, I am not pleased with the officiation in today’s game,” said Masanjala, referring to the red card.
Epac’s Audlo Makonyola said he was not pleased with the result, blaming it all on complacency on the part of his charges.
“Having seen our opponents struggling at Blue Eagles yesterday, the boys took a
casual approach thinking we already had the points in the bag and we have paid dearly for that,” said Makonyola.
In other league games on Sunday, Big Bullets came from behind to hold Mafco 1-1 at Kamuzu Stadium with Chikwawa United and Zam Tigers also playing a 1-all draw at Kalulu Stadium.
