Malawi TNM Super League title is now Wanderers’ to lose
With four points ahead of their nearest contenders Nyasa Big Bullets, Mighty Be Forward Wanderers just need a win on Saturday when they take on debutantes Masters Security FC to clinch the TNM Super League title that has eluded them for a decade.
Balaka Town will be abuzz all day on Saturday when Wanderers and the Lilongwe-based 13th-placed Masters Security clash at Balaka Stadium where — in normal circumstances elsewhere — the trophy could have been stashed away somewhere to be presented if the contender did the needful.
However, it is not a match the Nomads should take lightly because the TNM Super League rookies Masters Security, though they are rated as minnows against the giants, do pull lots of surprises and they need to boost up their morale since they are going to participate in the CAF Confederations Cup next year.
They are 13th with 28 points and they need to save themselves from relegation. Close on their heels are 14th-placed Wizards FC who have 24. Masters have three games remaining while Wizards have two matches left to play.
Masters date Kamuzu Barracks on Sunday while Wizards wrap up their season this weekend — up against relegated Chitipa United at Karonga Stadium on Saturday and aganist Moyale the following day at Mzuzu Stadium.
Masters need to win at least one game of their remaining three.
So, the Nomads need to tread carefully on Saturday and as their team manager told Nyasa Times this week, there is no room for complacency.
While the Nomads faithful will have their eyes glued to the action, they will also keep an ear to the ground to the happenings at Chitowe Stadium in Nkhotakota where Dwangwa United will be hosting 2nd-placed Nyasa Big Bullets.
Wanderers have 65 points and if they lose both their remaining games and the Bullets (at 61) claim all six points in their last two games beginning against Dwangwa, then The People’s Team shall claim the title.
As analysts are saying, it is up to Wanderers to lose the tight grip they had throughout the campaign in the fight for the 2017 title.
In a nutshell, Big Bullets have won the Super League title 11 times; Wanderers five times; Silver Strikers seven times; defunct Escom United twice with once for defunct Civo United (1987), defunct MDC United (1988), Admarc Tigers (1989) and Kamuzu Barracks in 2016.
The Bullets were champions in 1986, 1991, 1992, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004, 2005-06, 2014-15). Bullets won the league seven times in a row from 1999 to 2006 and they stayed eight years in a row without winning it from 2006 to 2014.
Wanderers’ years were in1990, 1995, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 2006 while Silver Strikers claimed it in 1993, 1994, 1995-96, 2008, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13.
Meanwhile, 226 games have been played and 517 goals were scored and leading the pack of scorers with 14 goals is 3rd-placed Silver Strikers’ Matthews Sibale followed by 12 goals from Mphatso Filimoni (Blue Eagles), 11 from Raphael Phiri (Civil Sporting) and Jack Chiona (Dwangwa United) and 10 goals each from Mischeck Botomani (Wizards F.C) and Vincent Nyangulu (Masters Security).
The other goals are from Fletcher Bandawe (Civil Sporting), Khuda Muyaba (Moyale) and Jide Mbandambanda (Blantyre United) with nine goals each; Joseph Kachule (Civil Sporting), Chiukepo Msowoya (Nyasa Big Bullets) and Luke Chima (Azam Tigers) with eight each while seven apiece have been achieved by Esau Kanyenda and Joseph Kamwendo (both Be Forward Wanderers) and Innocent Bokosi of Red Lions.
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