Kaliati’s free-kick strike gives Wanderers Maximum points over Mafco

By Antony Isaiah Jr:….

Isaac Kaliati’s second half strike from free-kick has helped Mighty Wanderers to amass maximum points after beating the Salima based Soldiers, Mafco Football Club at Kamuzu Stadium.

Fresh from an embarrassment in Lilongwe in the FDH Bank Cup, Coach for Wanderers made three changes as he opted for a 4-3-3 formation.

Ahamadu Kung’ndu displaced injured Stanley Sanudi, Peter Cholopi for Adeleke Kalowole, and Vincent Nyangulu was thrown in for Francis Mkonda who missed the fixture after accumulating three yellow cards.

It’ was a team sheet with no defensive midfielder as Isaac Kaliati, Felix Zulu and Yamikani Chester were packed in the midfield with Vincent Nyangulu, Muhamad Sulumba and Misheck Botomani playing as the front-three.

Richard Chipuwa was relegated to the bench and Piliran Mapira cane on for him.

On the other hand, Stereo Gondwe entrusted the efforts of Blessings Kameza in goals, Paul Ndholvu was given the role to lead the team from the back and Richard Mbulu was in front of Gabeya and Cholopi.

The first 45-minutes, was full of chances but both teams were very guttery missing a number of chances. However, credit must be directed to the goalminders for both teams as they were making outstanding saves keeping their respective teams in the game.

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers failed to utilise their first two chances from the set-pieces within the first four minutes. Isaac Kaliati had a poor free kick that hit the wall and his delivery a moment later failed to targeted his strikers.

Mafco FC were at the thick of things in the 10th minute but Dan Chimbalanga’s free kick landed directly into the palms of Mapira before the Soldiers squandered another chance two minutes later. Richard Mbulu spotted Aubrey Chafewa in his company on the left and the full back drilled is hammer shot wide.

Two back-to-back delivers from corner kick were well defended by Mafco’s Ndholvu’s led defence.

Piliran Mapira made two saves repudiating Mafco’s lardy forward, Peter Katsonga and Dan Chimbalanga from firing home.

On paper, with three Strikers in the field of play, Muhamad Sulumba and Vincent Nyangulu were all operating from wide, leaving the short forward, Misheck Botomani as their number 9.

Botoman was barred by his height to put the Nomads in front free receiving a brilliant delivery from Isaac Kaliati as he headed his ball over the bar before Muhamad Sulumba missed another glorious chance with two minutes before the break.

After the recess, Mafco started on front foot and Richard Mbulu had a side-netting just two minutes from resumption.
The introduction of Chiukepo Msowoya and Wisdom Mpinganjira who replaced Muhammad Sulumba and Misheck Botomani saw their game’s intensity going up as Chiukepo’s first touch was a real chance that the veteran headed wide.

After several attempts from the set-pieces, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers found the much-needed goal through Isaac Kaliati from free kick. The winger lifted the ball over the wall, bending it to the far post, beating Blessings Kameza who was manning the goals.

The win takes Nomads to 4th on the table, thanks to Blue Eagles who beat Silver Strikers at Bingu National Stadium in another match. They have now collected 40 points from 21 games.

Mafco FC have dropped to sixth with 38 points from 24 games.

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥-𝐬𝐡𝐲

The Coach opted for a 4-3-3 formation to have numbers upfront in his quest dig for goals after playing 90 minutes against the neighbours but the presence of three Strikers was not felt in the game as they were very shy of shooting on goals.

They had one of the golden boot contenders, Muhhamad Sulumba who has scored 10 goals, just three behind the leader, Babatunde Adepoju but his failed to mark his presence, no wonder he was pulled out in the second half.

He was mostly opening from the left flank has a marvelous chance just before half-time in the penalty area. Isaac Kaliati caught him and with his confidence and experience, he beat a defender that could not keep his composure as his shot went wide.

Misheck Botomani also was the beneficiary of Kaliati’s brilliant vision and curling ability when he was found in the penalty area but the striker had a looping header going over the bar.

Chiukepo Msowoya after coming off the bench, he also two back-to-back chances after targeting his headers to the goal.

𝐊𝐮𝐧𝐠’𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐭

Missing their captain, Stanley Sanudi due to injury Nomads had to be worried about the replacement as Sanudi has been one of the outstanding players for the team this season.

However, Alex Ngwira threw his eyes to the Reserve side where he spotted Ahamadu Kung’unde and give him his debut in a such tough game but the young man rose to the occasion.

Playing as a right back, he as most of the time facing Richard Mbulu but the young man had a Lion’s heart managing to pocket the Malawi’s National Team striker.

The young man was named the man of the match after such splendid performance.