Silver secure first win as Mafco taste first defeat in second round

By Antony Isaiah Jr

Chawanangwa Kaonga netted from the spot against Rumphi United to give Silver Strikers the first victory in the second round of three games.

The Central Bankers have started the second round of the tnm Super League on a slow note as they have failed to get a victory in three games. They were beaten by Mafco before recording back-to-back draws against Civil Service United and Ekwendeni Hammers.

Silver Strikers has been one of the teams that are struggling for consistency this season and their poor performance led to the firing of Dan Kabwe as the Head Coach of the team.

On Sunday, in his quest to have a dangerous attack and amass maximum points, Mcdonald Yobe put Stain Davie, Maxwell Phodo and Chawanangwa were all named in the starting Xi.

Patrick Macheso missed from unmissable range when he was found unmarked in the penalty box by Chawanangwa Kaonga but the attacking midfielder had his shot scampering wide.

A moment later, the Bankers broke through the right flank where Captain Mike Robert was operating from. Levison Maganizo launched into the box and he was brought down by Rumphi United defenders.

Chawanangwa made no mistake but to put the Bankers ahead from the 12-yard.

There was a drought of goals in the second half as Rumphi were searching for an equaliser but Bankers’ defence that was led by Nixon Mwase who replaced Maxwell Pipe in the first half was extremely solid.

Macdonald Yobe was happy with the win saying it can heighten the confidence of his charges.

“We have won and it will boost the confidence of our boys. The pitch was bumpy and we were failing to display our system but the good thing is that we have managed to win,” said Yobe

Wiston Kaunda, team manager for Rumphi United blamed the officiation for denying them a clear penalty.

“We have lost the game but the referee was not on our side as he failed to give us a penalty but he gave a dubious penalty to Silver Strikers,” said Kaunda.

The victory takes Silver Strikers to fifth place with 31 points from 19 games.

Rumphi United are now without a win in 12 games as their last win in the elite league is dated back to May 8, 2022 when they best Sable Farming Football Club.

Silver Strikers in their next assignment, they are facing Red Lions who are coming from a 1-all draw against Mighty Tigers on Saturday and the game will be played to Silver Stadium.

Elsewhere, goals from Gasten Simkonda and Raphael Phiri were enough to render Mafco Football Club their first defeat in the second round this season.

Mafco suffered a 2-1 defeat to their brothers in arms, Moyale Barracks after having a scintillating performance in their last three games in the Super League.

They started the second round with a convincing 5-1 victory over Ekwendeni Hammers before recording a 1-0 victory over Red Lions.

The Salima based Soldiers went on to hammer Rumphi United by three goals to one but they couldn’t replicate their performance in a game against the Lion’s of Kaning’ina.

Mafco tool the parity first through Peter Katsonga but Raphael Phiri cancelled it as he was spotted in the box by Brown Magaga.

The veteran Striker, Gasten Simkonda sealed Moyale’s second win in this second round when he got better of Mafco’s defenders to put the ball into the net.

Mafco are still on third place with 34 points from 20 games while Moyale occupy the 8th place with 23 points from 18 games.

Moyale host their cross-town rivals, Ekwendeni Hammers in their next assignment while Mafco have been rested this week.