Nyerere salvage draw against Njenjete: Malawi TNM Super League
Substitute Edward Chilalika scored with the last kick of the game as Mighty ‘Nyerere’ Wanderers rose from the dead to salvage a 1-all draw against Epac, alias Njenjete zaku Lilongwe in a TNM Super League match played on a water logged Civo Stadium turf.
Having slumped 1-0 against Civo United at the same venue 48 hours earlier, Nyerere were on the verge of a second successive defeat in the capital when Chilalika scored on the dot of added time to salvage a point for the Nomads.
The youthful striker had gone in for wasteful Diverson Chilemba in the dying minutes before beating Epac goalkeeper Tione Tembo with a simple strike from the tightest angle.
Epac had taken the lead 16 minutes into the game- courtesy of an Ishmael Thindwa fine header of a Mussa Manyenje cross.
Wanderers had all the chances to pull level and even move ahead- but thanks to fine goal keeping and good defending on the part of Epac. At one time, defender Bright Phiri emerged from nowhere to clear Innocent
Dzimbiri’s goal-bound shot from the goal-line with the goalkeeper well beaten.
Phiri was later replaced by towering Stain Malata, a move which did not please most followers for Epac.
Wanderers also brought in Victor Mpinganjira in the second half before a double substitution of Cuthbert Sinetre and Chilemba, who were replaced by Kondwani Kumwenda and Chilalika.
At the start of the game, there was drama as both sides started with 10 men, leaving a player on the touchline. Wanderers left Mike Kaziputa while Epac had Jafali Chande on the tough-line. The two players pretended to be fastening their boots, waiting for the other to go in first. The drama continued and after some five minutes,
Kaziputa went in before Chande followed suit.
Commenting on the game, Wanderers coach Steward Mbolembole felt his side deserved to win the game by a comfortable margin.
“Football can sometimes be cruel. We played better today and created many chances, which were not utilized. We could have won this game by a wide margin,” said Mbolembole, whose side now occupies the sixth position with 42 points from 26 games.
Epac’s Abbas Makawa blamed the officiating personnel for providing four minutes of added time.
“I don’t know why they added four minutes, when we did not have many stoppages. We were supposed to win the game but officiation has left us down,” said Makawa.
In Zomba, Moyale Barracks made it six points in two games in the southern region after demolishing relegated Evirom 3-0.
