Postmortem for 2011/12 TNM Super League: Coaches speak
The 2011-2012 TNM Super League Champions, Silver Strikers finished on the summit table of the league with 48 points having netted 60 goals in their twenty eight games played.
The Bankers, who beat Escom United on Saturday , January 28, 2012 at Kamuzu Stadium in the won 9 games at home in Area 47 with 5 away victories.
They pocket K8 million all the away to the Reserve Bank of Malawi in the capital city of Malawi.
Top four
Silver Strikers caretaker coach Hellings Mwakasungula says it was not all about the money but recording history.
“It is not all about winning the money but l am very happy because history has been written that I, with the help of three others, managed to grab the league championship. Thank God we made it and we will come hard next season to defend our title,” said the midfielder who took over as coach midway in the season after the firing of Daniel Dzinkambani and Meke Mwase..
On second position , Escom United wrapped up the league with 47 points having scored 38 times. The Electricians, who should blame themselves for failing to utilize home ground advantage to defend their title, won 7 home matches and 7 away encounters.
A draw for the electricians was enough to see them through to win the league back-to-back! But alas! The Bankers switched off the lights in the commercial city.
Escom United mentor Charles Manda said: “It is painful to see the trophy being whisked away to Lilongwe yet we had all the chances to defend it at home, but the training boycott which our players had for a week also affected the team.”
Mighty ‘Nyerere’ Wanderers, who failed to hold on to a 1-0 lead to Moyale Barracks in Mzuzu to lose 1- 2, finished the league on the third slot having accumulated 45 points. The Lali- Lubani Road boys were supposed to defeat the Kaning’ina soldiers by goals to nothing and hoping for a 0-0 draw to Silver and Escom .
The Nomads managed to win 7 away matches with 5 at home.
Mighty Wanderers tactician Franco Ndawa said: “ l can promise Wanderers fans is that we have a good squad comprised of young talented boys.”
The Area 3 giants Civo United finished on fourth place having amassed 44 points. The Civil Servants won 8 home matches and 5 away games.
Civo were let down by injuries having missed four of their key players like Emmanuel ‘Siyeni’ Zoya, Joseph ‘Dudu’ Kachule, John ‘Kintu’ Lanjesi and Dave Ng’ambi.
They also lost 0-1 to Big Bullets on Saturday and failed to overtake the Nomads on the third position because of their defeat.
Civo’s coach ‘Sir’ Alex Masanjala said it was unfortunate for them not to win the title because they had all the chances comparing with any team in the league.
“I think we lost the title after losing to Zomba United. Injuries also affected us having missed some of our key players like Zoya, Lanjesi, Ng’ambi and Kachule,” said the mentor.
Others
Moyale Barracks have finished the league on fifth place with 43 points. The military men managed to beat teams on their back yards 9 times and 4 times away.
Coach Nicolas Mhango was delighted with their position but was quick to point out that poor officiating marred their chances to finish in top three.
“Poor officiation in our two games in Lilongwe against Epac and Silver affected our chance to be in top three,” said Mhango.
Epac FC, who are basking on position six with 43 points having won 8 home matches and 5 away had a wonderful season as they also produced top goal scorer in Ishmael ‘Mr. Epac’ Thindwa, who netted 18 goals.
Their coach Abasi Makawa was pleased his side escaped relegation from the top flight league.
Blantyre United also popularly known as, ‘Mphembedzu zaku Blantyre’ finished the league on seventh position after winning 7 home matches and 4 away but had a good run in for the tile until towards the end.
Assistant coach Steve Mbulanje was disappointed with officiation especially in their 3-2 loss to Azam Tigers as pathetic.
“Poor officiation is killing Malawi’s soccer and if nothing will be done then l am scared our game will not develop,” said Mbulanje.
The Standard Bank Cup champions, Blue Eagles had a bumpy season having finished on eighth place with 42 points. The Area 30 cops won most of their home games 8 against 4 away.
Eagles mentor Declerk Nsakakuwona said: “ We managed to secure the Standard Bank Cup but failed to finish on a better position in the league, but we will come in full force next season because we now feel we have enough arsenal even to grab the title.”
The old capital city giants, Red Lions lost the spark in the middle of the league. The Zomba based soldiers finished the league on ninth place with 41 points. They won 5 games and 5 away.
The Lions coach Collins Nkuna conceded that they had one of the toughest seasons but promised for a better start next season.
“We were still restructuring our side and we feel come next season we will be fully equipped,” said Nkuna.
On tenth position is Azam Tigers. The Kau-Kau boys managed to collect 40 points after winning 6 home games and 6 away matches.
Tiger’s coach Leo Mpulula attacked referees in most of their games.
“These people have spoiled the game of football in Malawi. The problem is that most of them are athletes not referee’s otherwise they spoiled most of our games,” said Mpulula, who has promised to a complete overhaul of the club.
Unfamiliar position
Big Bullets have finished the league on unfamiliar position for their first time. Bullets are on eleventh slot with 40 points. They managed to win 5 home matches and 5 away encounters.
Coach Eding’ton Ng’onamo, who rescued the team towards the end of the campaign, conceded that they had one of the worst seasons .
“Even though we finished on unfamiliar position l am very happy because l managed to rescue the team from relegation zone. I had a big task to restructure the team that is also why we struggled,” said Ng’onamo.
The Salima based soldiers, Mafco FC, who were favorites’ for the title in the first round, have finished the league on 12th place having collected 39 points. Mafco won 5 home games and 5 away.
Relegated
However, it sad news for three out-fits namely Cobbe Barracks, Zomba United and Embangweni United who have faced the chop in the elite league.
Cobbe Barracks finished the league with 27 points while Zomba United amassed 22 points with Embangweni United anchoring the league with 19 points.
Super League Association of Malawi general secretary Williams Banda told Nyasa Timesthat the presentation ceremony will be done on February 10 at a venue to be announced later.
