Wizards to start life away from Malawi TNM Super League
Premier Bet Wizards, a youthful team known for playing a beautiful passing game on the floor, is finally out of the TNM Super League after losing their final game of the season 3 nil against Moyale Barracks on Sunday at Mzuzu Stadium.
After beating already relegated Chitipa United 4-1 on Saturday at Karonga Stadium, the Wizards desperately needed a win on Sunday against Moyale Barracks while praying that Masters Security stumble against Kamuzu Barracks on the same day for them to still harbour survival hopes.
Lady luck never smiled on the Wizards as Masters Security went on to beat Kamuzu Barracks 3-2 in Dedza while the Lions of Kaning’ina whipped them.
As usual, Wizards started the game with confidence, exchanging brilliant passes from one player to another but they could not find the back of Moyale Barracks’ net.
Twenty minutes into the game, Moyale’s Khuda Muyaba unleashed a thunderous shot from 20 metres out but goalkeeper Francis Mkanda managed to block the shot with his palms.
Wizards’ lone striker Misheck Botomani was so wasteful in the first half. In the 32nd minute, he rounded a Moyale Barracks defender skillfully but alone went wide of the goalmouth until his shot was blocked.
A minute later, Botomani broke through again and had only goalkeeper Macdonald Harawa to beat but Harawa simply knelt down to block Botomani’s shot with his knees. Botomani went on to miss another clear scoring opportunity in the 34th minute, with the goalkeeper already beaten, when he shot completely wide off the mark.
Seconds before the half time whistle, the soldiers retaliated through Chamveka Gwetsani’s powerful shot that was parried away by the Wizards goalie.
Two minutes into the second half, Moyale’s Lloyd Njaliwa received the ball on the right five metres away from the half way line inside Wizards half and curved the ball towards the far post where Zondiwe Munthali, unmarked, nodded the ball into the net. 1 nil to the soldiers.
Another fierce attack by the soldiers in the 87th minute led to a handball by a Wizard defender in the 18 metre box and referee Misheck Juba awarded them a penalty which Captain Timothy Nyirenda converted. 2 nil.
Zondiwe Munthali completed his brace after 2 minutes of added time for the Lions of Kaning’ina to emerge 3 nil victors.
Speaking to Nyasa Times after the match, Technical Director for Premier Bet Wizards, Peter Mjojo Mponda, said his charges created scoring chances but finishing was poor.
“We have been playing very good football in the league but I think we had problems in defending as well as finishing. We hope to bounce back into the super league after a season in the Premier Division,” he added.
The winning coach Charles Kamanga said it felt good to win the game as his team seeks to finish in the top five.
The Wizards have wound up the season with 27 points from all their thirty games and they join Chitipa United and Blantyre United out of the country’s top flight league.
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