Kajawa loses first match in charge of Ntopwa

Newly- appointed coach for Ntopwa Football Club, Trevor  Kajawa, lost his first match away at Mzuzu Stadium against Moyale Barracks 2-1 on Sunday in the second round of the TNM Super League.

Kajawa replaced Leo Mpulula and the Moyale game was his very first assignment.

There was no clear pattern of play by both teams in the first 20 minutes as each team could not complete three passes in building up an attack.

But the visitors managed to showcase a clever attacking move in the 21st minute which ended up in a beautiful cross but Hendrix Misinde was unlucky to have his powerful header punched over the cross bar by goalkeeper Macdonald Harawa.

A minute before half time, a long ball into Moyale’s half beat the off side trap as Moyale defenders had moved up close to the half way line. Mphatso Magaleta raced for the ball and managed to beat advancing goalkeeper Macdonald Harawa to put his side in front until recess.

The soldiers came into the second half fully charged to equalise and win the match. They kept attacking fiercely with long balls from the first second half whistle.

Six minutes into the second half, Lloyd Njaliwa’s decent cross from the right found Gastin Simkonda in the box who nodded the ball into the visitors’ net. 1-1.

Simkonda scored Moyale’s winning goal in the 63rd minute. Deus Nkutu headed down the ball from a left cross and his captain, Simkonda, planted it home for a brace.

The game ended 2-1 in favour of Moyale Barracks. Moyale Barracks lost to Ntopwa 4-1 at Kamuzu Stadium in the first round.

Speaking to Nyasa Times after the match, Kajawa said his charges started the game very well but lost concentration in the second half.

“We were confused by Moyale’s type of play today but we will try to rectify the problems we noted,” Kajawa added.

Moyale Barracks Team Manager, Victor Phiri, said he was happy to beat Ntopwa after losing 4-1 to them in the first round.

“This is a sweet revenge for us. The new players we have recruited have helped us. We recruited nine new players and out of those nine, four have played this game,” explained Phiri.

Newly recruited Moyale Barracks player, Charles Nkhoma, was voted man of the match.

The win has taken Moyale Barracks to position 8 with 21 points from 16 games while Ntopwa FC is on position 13 with 13 points from 16 games.

At Karonga Stadium, Savenda Chitipa United and Karonga United got three points each on Saturday and Sunday respectively as TN Stars did not go to fulfil their fixtures.

Reports indicate that TN Stars players are boycotting training and games because they have not been paid for months.

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