……Silver 2-1 Kamuzu Barracks
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Central Bankers diffused grenades in defense of the Reserve Bank from an organized attack by stubborn soldiers from Kamuzu Barracks.
Silver Strikers ensured their ambition of protecting their record against the Kamuzu Barracks soldiers in the 12th minute into the game as they broke the deadlock through Patrick Macheso who tapped in a rebound after veteran Atusaye Nyondo’s shot was saved by the Chiwoko soldiers’ goal minder Hastings Banda.
The goal increased Pieter De Jongh’s confidence to maintain the battle tempo against the soldiers’ planned ambush on the Bankers. However, the soldiers failed to utilize their bayonets giving the home team the victory opportunity.
Prolific midfielders Chimwemwe Idana, Patrick Macheso, and Maxwell Papipi missed great chances which could have silenced the soldiers right in the first half.
The Kamuzu Barracks soldiers reorganized themselves in the second stanza and no wonder hitman Olson Kanjira headed in for the visitors after Levison Maganizo sent a well-crafted free kick.
After seeing this, the Silver Strikers technical panel made changes as George Chaomba and Zebron Kalima replaced Duncan Nyoni and Patrick Macheso respectively.
Despite all efforts, both teams failed to find winning goals and the game was almost to end in a 1-1 draw, but in the dying minute of the added 5 minutes Chimwemwe Idana blessed the bankers after producing a massive run passing through KB defenders before sending the ball in the empty net. Idana received the beautiful ball from Uncle Stain Davie.
Silver Strikers FC head coach Pieter De Jongh stated that they deserved to win the match as they created numerous chances.
“My boys played well in the first half and there was no team that could match that superb performance and we scored a goal. In the second half, we lost concentration hence we conceded that goal. We then introduced more attacking players to snatch the victory and indeed it worked”, Said De Jongh.
The Central Bankers have now moved to second position on the ladder tied on 56 points with leaders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets FC.
Bullets occupy the summit on better goal difference, Silver Strikers FC’s last game of the season will be against the defending champions Bullets on 3rd December at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Silver can still win the title if Bullets lose to Karonga and the Bankers win in Blantyre in their last game of the season.
Kamuzu Barracks assistant coach Ted Kalinda was disappointed with the results describing it as painful.
“Painful defeat because time was already up and if we got a point that could have been good for us. It was not a delaying tactic as per se but our counterparts were fast on the ball hence we wanted to ease the pressure” ” he said.
Kamuzu Barracks FC has 45 points from 29 games sitting in position 4.
