Yobe blames condition of Mzuzu Stadium pitch as Silver held by Ekwendeni

By Antony Isiah jr

The Assistant Coach for Silver Strikers, Mcdonald Yobe has attributed Silver Strikers’ draw with Ekwendeni Hammers to the poor condition of the Mzuzu Stadium.

Silver Strikers netted first through their striker who has been tight-lipped in terms of scoring, Maxwell Gasten Phodo in the 4th minute before Yohane Nkhoma cancelled it just before half-time.

Making his remarks in the post match interviews, coach Mc Donald Yobe, said the pitch was bumpy.

“Our boys played well despite the bad condition of the ground which is very bumpy,” said Yobe.

With the jerk, Silver Strikers have tugged themselves away from the title contenders as they are now trailing by 21 points behind the league leaders, Nyasa Big Bullets.

The Central Bankers fleeced Head Coach, Daniel Kabwe and replacing him with Leo Mpulura due to poor performance of the team but Results have not been coming.

After finishing the first round while pistols flickering with victories in their last two games, Silver Strikers started the second round of the 2022 tnm Super League with a disappointing 3-1 doom to Mafco FC at home before dropping points as they were held by their City rivals, Civil Service United.

Coming into Ekwendeni’s game who have been struggling for consistency too, Bankers were boosted by Stain Davie whose deal to Township Rollers of Botswana plopped and Mark Fodya who has missed several games due to injury.

It was Chawanangwa Kaonga’s impact that took not long to be seen as he set Maxwell Phodo for the opener in the 4th minute and Bankers had hope of collecting maximum points but lack of concentration at the back costed them as Hammers wrecked the matter after capitalising their mistakes.

Despite the draw, Yobe said his boys played well.

“We had a good game. Dropping points, that’s part of the game,” said Yobe.

Gilbert Chirwa’s era starts with a feasible performance but Hammers have to wait for their first win in 13 games

Ekwendeni Hammers have a new boss in town as Etson Kadenge was fired after spending two anniversary with the team due to poor results this season.

The team has been playing well as the outgoing coach said earlier but they were lacking belligerency in offensive zone.

The former Nyasa Big Bullets mentor started discharging his duties on Wednesday and the performance of the team seemed to have upped.

He vowed to improve the team’s play earlier this week.

“I am trying to fix the play of the team though I have come late but my boys are responding well with what am telling them.

“We had problems of keeping the ball in the half of our opponent which is our offensive zone but with time I’m sure we will pick up and I’m confident that as a team we will start doing well” said Chirwa.

Coming into the game, Hammers were coming from a 2-1 defeat to Blue Eagles in the FDH Bank Cup and their last victory in the League is dated back to 17 April when they beat Rumphi United by 2 goals to 1.

Ekwendeni Hammers are without a win in 13 games and they have found themselves on 14th with 19 points from 19 games.

Gilbert Chirwa heralded his boys for the performance.

“It was a good game as you are aware that I have been with the team for two days and it looks that they have already started executing what I taught them, in short they welcomed me very well that’s why we managed to contain Silver Strikers,” said Chirwa.

Phodo Finally finds the back of net

Maxwell Phodo was one of the golden Boot contenders last season as he finished as the runner up on the scoring chart behind the winner, Hassan Kajoke.

However, the Dedza based boy have failed to replicate his last season’s performance into this season as he has been firing blunt in 14 games games that has been featured.

Phodo was named in the starting Xi against Hammers and he had his name on the scoresheet just four minutes from the kick off but his strike was not enough for the Bankers to shovel maximum points as the visitors fight back to earn a point.

Silver Strikers have dislodged Dedza Dynamos from the 6th place with 28 points from 18 games.

Both FDH Bank Cup and Super League have gone for the Bankers and they will now at their eyes on the Airtel Top 8 Cup.