TNM Super League midweek fixture preview

By Antony Isaiah Jr:…….

The TNM Super League moves toward an end this weekend as the Champions have already been known, the three teams relegated to the second-tie Leagues have already been known- we have remained with only two battles at stake, thus the top 4 and top 8.

Before we witness the Champions, Nyasa Big Bullets being ceremonially crowned the Championship of the 2022 on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium, the Super League of Malawi has given assignments to 8 teams to skirmish for points this midweek.

𝐍𝐲𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐯𝐬 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝

Straight from thumping the Lions of Kaning’ina, Moyale Barracks on Saturday, Nyasa Big Bullets are on Wednesday facing Karonga United in their last but one game before they wrap up their season with another home game against Dedza Dynamos on Saturday.

Karonga United who are two weeks away from home since they left Karonga District on November 4, are coming from a 2-all stalemate against TN Stars.

In their 2-week pilgrimage, the Crocodiles have oozed 14 goals already in three games going into this game.

They lost 7-0 [in the Airtel Top 8 Cup] to the same opponents that they are facing on Wednesday before another 5-0 baptism of fire on the hands of the Salima based Soldiers, Mafco Football Club.

Like last season, Karonga United wrapped up their season with trip to Blantyre and it was also for a formality sake as the people’s team had already sealed the trophy. Karonga nearly pulled a surprise at Kamuzu Stadium as they were 2 up before the break but the hosts staged a comeback to win it 3-2.

Josiah Duwah and Mphatso Kamanga had scored for the visitors in the first-half before Hassan Kajoke bagged a brace and Lanjesi Nkhoma bagged a single goal to complete a classic come-back.

In their last three games, Bullets have managed to score 12 goals[7-0 win over Karonga, 2-0 win over Tigers and 3-1 win over Moyale] a single goal [in a 3-1 win over Moyale Barracks].

As Kalisto Pasuwa’s habitually thing, squad rotation will come into play in a bid to keep the players free from fatigue and injuries as the two teams also face each other on 26 this month at Karonga Stadium in a return match of the Airtel Top 8 Cup.

Babatunde Adepoju is expected to start the game as the striker is chasing for the golden boot award witu 17 goals and he is being chased down by Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ striker, Muhhamad Sulumba who has pillaged 15 goals.

Former Ntopwa United winger, Josiah Duwah who has scored 7 goals this season, expected to be the main man to watch for Karonga United.

Nyasa Big Bullets are leading the 16-member tnm Super League log table with 67 points from 28 games while Karonga United are on number 11 with 32 points from 28 games.

Since their promotion into the elite league in 2014, Christopher Nyambose’s men are yet to win at the Soccer mecca. They held Bullets to a goalless stalemate in the first round at Karonga Stadium.

𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐳𝐚 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬 𝐯𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

The Zomba-based Soldiers, Red Lions with 28 points from 28 games on number 13 are safe from relegation following Sable’s poor results in their last trip to Capital City where they lost to both Blue Eagles and Silver Strikers.

Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar Football Club are the ones who are in dire need of the points as they are hunting for a top 8 finish.

They sit 9th with 40 points from 28 games, 4 points below 8th-placed, Civo Service United. This means that Dan Dzimkambani’s team need to beat both Red Lions and Nyasa Big Bullets to take their total pickings to 46.

In the first round, they settled for a goalless draw at Balaka Stadium.

Dedza Dynamos are coming from a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Blue Eagles in the Airtel Top Cup and they are winless in their last 4 games. They lost 1-0 to Silver Strikers, 4-0, 3-0 to Blue Eagles, and playing a burden stalemate against Civo Service United.

Their last win is dated back to 15 October, 2022 when they beat Mafco FC by a goal to nill at home.

Since they switched their home base from Balaka to Dedza, only Silver Strikers managed to walk away with maximum points over Dedza Dynamos at Dedza Stadium.

On the other hand, Red Lions are coming from 3-2 defeat to Karonga United and they have only won 1 game in their last 5 games. They lost 3-1 to Bullets, 1-0 to Moyale, 2-0 to Blue Eagles and beating Rumphi United 2-0.

If Red Lions win, they will finish the season on position 12 with 31 points, replacing Mighty Tigers on goal difference.

𝐒𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐤𝐮𝐫𝐮 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬

An already relegated side, Sable Farming are welcoming the angry Nomads at Mpira Stadium in a game that the Lali Luban based team are supposed to get maximum points as they are hunting for top 4 place.

Siting 5th with 50 points from 28 games, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers are at risk of slipping to position 6th should they fail to get three points in their remaining 2 games. Silver Strikers are on number 4 with 51 points from 30 games while Mafco have 49 points from 29 games, a win in their last game against Blue Eagles will see them finishing the season with 52 points.

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers who are said to have been rocked by Divisions in their technical panel, have played three games in the league without a win and they are coming from a 4-3 defeat to Civo Service United.

Nomads hammered Sable in the first round by three goals to one with Vincent Nyangulu bagging a brace, Yamikan Chester scoring a beauty while Taniel Mhango scored a consolation goal for the Sables.

Muhhamad Sulumba is likely to start for Wanderers as he is battling for Golden Boot accolade.

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐯𝐬 𝐓𝐍 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

TN Stars were the first team to render an obstacle to Blue Eagles’ chase for Championship as they beat them by a goal to nill at Kasungu Stadium.

Blue Eagles headed to Kasungu without four of their key players, Micium Mhone, Sankhani Mkandawire, Schumacker Kuwali and Brighton Munthali who were on nation team duty and they were also coming from 4 back-to-back draws.

However, with the second place already sealed for the Cops, Eliya Kananji is likely to give game-time to fringe players in this game in preparation for the Airtel Top 8 Cup- a cup which they have set their eyes on, to honour the new Inspector General.