“A Mighty clash” as Chiudza cancels Sanudi’s opener for Wanderers, Tigers to share points

By Antony Isaiah Jr…….

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers were held to a 1-all stalemate by Mighty Waka Waka Tigers as Precious Chiudza cancelled Stanley Sanudi’s opener at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday.

Captain Sanudi converted from the 12-yards to give the visitors the lead but Precious Chiudza minutes later scored through the penalty for the game to end in a 1-all stalemate, a third consecutive draw between the two sides.

The result means that Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have failed to dislodge the people’s team from the summit and they have slipped to third place following Silver Strikers 3-1 win over Ekwendeni Hammers in Mzuzu.

The Nomads remain unbeaten in the league and this was their first draw this season after winning their first three games, they now have 10 points from four games.

As for Tigers, they are 7th with five points from four games, level on points with 5th placed Blue Eagles, 6th placed Karonga United who suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bangwe All Stars, 8th placed Civil Service United and 9th placed Moyale Barracks.

Mighty Waka Waka Tigers Head Coach, Christopher Nyambose said the result was influenced by the referee Micheal Mwambyale and his assistants, Joseph Nyauti and Pondamali Tembo.

During the post-match interviews, Nyambose said the referee was biased towards the visitors as he as making questionable decisions.

According to the former Karonga United Coach, Mwambyale ruled out the clear goal that Tigers scored from a free-kick and he also failed to send off Christopher Kumwembe even after being booked for the second time in the game.

“I don’t know the decisions that were made by the referee,” said Nyambose. “I cannot say that he was incompetent but possibly it was their agreement. Some of the decisions were not favoring us but Wanderers.

“We scored a goal and they denied us. When you want to play a free-kick you don’t wait for the whistle. We scored and it was denied. Wanderers do send players to national team, but with this system, we can’t develop our football.

“It was a good game, more especially in the first-half but in the second-half it was a nasty game. Full of tempers. This was not the true reflection of the game but we have won a point and we have to accept it, it is enough for us.”

The fixture between the two teams have produced 14 draws with Mighty Mukuru Wanderers having 13 wins while Tigers have 7 wins.

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Head Coach, Mark Simon Harrison said his team would have won the game had the referee didn’t give Mighty Waka Waka Tigers a “ridiculous” penalty.

Reacting to the draw, Harrison says his team failed to score many goals but the penalty was ridiculous because Chiudza dived.

“It was a ridiculous penalty,” said Harrison. “It is so disappointing that we didn’t win the game. We dominated the game, the whole game. We controlled the game and created so may opportunities.

“We won the penalty and scored the goal, we thought that we gonna win the game but the referee went to give a penalty which can never be a penalty. The guy dived and its ridiculous. “

Prior to the game against Tigers, Wanderers had played three games and amassing 9 points from the possible 9. They have dropped to position 3 following FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ 3-1 win over Moyale Barracks and Silver Strikers 3-1 win over Ekwendeni Hammers.

The Nomads travel to Mzuzu next weekend to face Moyale Barracks at Mzuzu Stadium, a game that Harrison has described as a difficult game.

“We should score have 3 or 4 goals. Our next game is in Mzuzu, a difficult game, the field is unplayable but we need to find results,” added the Coach.

A premium fare brings premium results

In an eventful tie, a 1-all stalemate wouldn’t produce one side complaining. Two penalties, some barbaric believes were recorded in the game.

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Head Coach maintained the team that won 2-1 against Ekwendeni Hammers with Kumwembe leading the attack, Gabeya and Chaziya pairing up in the heart of defence.

The soul former Mighty Mukuru Wanderers goalkeeper, late Bornface Maganga was honoured with a minute of silence before kick-off and after that Wanderers were in the front foot, searching for an early goal.

As it has been a trend for the Nomads, they are dangerous on set-pieces. Misheck Botomani put his header over the bar after being found by Stanley Sanudi after 170 seconds on the clock.

Two players for Tigers calling for medical attention within the first half clearly shows the hype of the game. The two teams that have history between them.

Mark Harrison made a change at halftime by bringing the veteran Chiukepo Msowoya for Mphatso Kamanga. Iven Mwakapenda and Christopher Kumwembe were both booked for a commotion off the ball.

The Nomads were awarded a penalty after Wally Gondwe fouled Kumwembe in the penalty area and the was also commotion that saw the referee booked Kumwembe for the second time but surprisingly, he wasn’t sent off.

Tigers team appealed to the referee to send Kumwembe off but the referee turned into deaf and Sanudi took the penalty to give the visitors the lead.

Converting penalty to conceding the penalty, Stanley Sanudi three minutes after scoring for Wanderers pulled Precious Chiudza in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.

Chiudza converted the penalty to make it 1-all in the 68th minute.