Mfune too good to Wanderers’ defence

By Antony Isaiah Jr

Anthony ‘Sniper’ Mfune proved to be too good to Mighty Mukuru Wanderers defence in a game that rampant Nyasa Big Bullets humiliated their arch rivals by four goals to nill at Bingu National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The former Karonga United registered three goal contributions out of four goals and he was the plank for the people’s team.

Wearing Babatunde’s boot, he was deployed as the number 9 playing as twin striker to Hassan Kajoke. Babatunde could not start the game as he was yet to his fit after ailing in Tanzania in a game that Bullets succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Simba in the Caf Champions League.

Mfune scored one goal and he also had a hand in the other two goals that Gomezgani Chirwa and Hassa Kajoke scored.

With Nyasa Big Bullets playing with two men upfront to thicken their midfield in their attempt to stop ball distribution from Mighty Wanderers’ midfield, Antony Mfune could stretch himself more to the right flank with Kajoke doing the opposite.

Addition of Patrick Mwaungulu in the midfield, allowed Bullets to have an outlet of long balls as both Chimwemwe Idana and Ernest Petro are not good long-range passers.

Patrick Mwaungulu dropped to his own half and he received a pass from Chimwemwe Idana who disposed off Balakasi. The young man had a clever lift that found their target man, Anthony Mfune who was between two defenders.

The former Karonga United who is very short but energetic and pacey, beat both Gabeya and Balakasi on the right flank before spotting Gomezgani Chirwa who was launching into the box and he swiftly laid it off to the overlapping defender who despite being in crowd, hit the roof of the net.

In his search for the goal, Anthony Mfune could know where to position himself, ease himself to be spotted by the ball distributors and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ defence led by Miracle Gabeya failed to read the young man.

He nearly grabbed his goal in the first half but thanks to Wanderers left back, Joseph Balakasi who brought him down inviting a booking from the referee.

In second half, Mfune was at the thick of things when placed himself at a better position inviting a pass from Precious Sambani but his looping header flew over the bar.

Again, his energy, passion, fighting spirit lifted him out of two centre backs, Gabeya and Adeleke after receiving a long pass from the same man, Patrick Mwaungulu.

Mfune who went awl some months ago, chested the ball down and noticed Kajoke on his left hand side before the Reserve graduate won a penalty after being pulled down by his former teammate, Miracle Gabeya.

After nocking for several times, Mfune found himself on yje scoresheet. Wanderers defensive debacles punished them when Balakasi wanted to find his goalkeeper but the pass was very weak such that Gomezgani Chirwa arrived first on the ball before Chipuwa did.

The former Civo Service United full back, teased Chipuwa and laid him on the grass before returning the same pass that he received for his opener, and Anthony Mfune was equal to the pace and power of the pass, he imperiously connected it home to brush off Nomads’ hopes of staging a comeback like how they did in the second round of the tnm Super League in Blantyre.

He was named the man of the match.