Kumwembe, Sanudi on target as Wanderers beat Bangwe to go on top

By Antony Isaiah Jr…….

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have leapfrogged FCB Nyasa Big Bullets on top of the table after recovering from their two disappointing away games as they beat Bangwe All Stars on Saturday afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium.

Christopher Kumwembe whose suspension was cancelled by Super League of Malawi in the 11th hour pillaged his sixth goal of the season before Stanley Sanudi sealed the victory from the spot.

Mark Harrison handed Alfred Manyozo Jr the start after recovering from his injury and he bossed the midfield handing the Nomads an advantage to bag maximum points and fly to the top of the table with 14 points from 6 games.

Mabvuto Lungu welcomed his players that missed the 2-0 defeat to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, Chikumbutso Salima, Yamikani Mologeni and Emmanuel Saviel and they were all in the starting Xi while Chimango Kayira who has been appointed the physical trainer was not even appearing on the bench.

With Mark Harrison’a side in desperate need of points to reclaim the top spot that they surrendered to their cross-town rivals, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets after two draws against Tigers and Moyale, the next thing that they saw was their Strikers being missing recklessly missing chances.

With Chikumbutso Salima, Emmanuel Saviel, Robert Gomez showing some grips of brilliance, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers had to break 9n counter-attacks.

Bangwe still played an attractive brand of football, but it was lacking more of a cutting edge and Wanderers defenders led by Miracle Gabeya were at their best resilience, defensive best to get the three points so vital to their title bid.

On his return to the starting Xi, Kumwembe was more hungry for the goal and he twice caught offside in the first 8 minutes before three minutes later fired a baby-shot into the palms of Eliyasi Missi after being set up by Gaddie Chirwa from the left flank.

Equally, it needed no change in approach.Bangwe’s philosophy under Mabvuto Lungu who once coached Bullets is a slow, patient build-up via the two central defenders, followed by quick, vertical passing that breaks the lines and releases their vast array of No 10s and flying wingers, particularly Chikumbutso Salima.

In possession, the rookies were happy to rotate the ball in their own third between their two centre-halves, usually Captain Fanizo Mwamsambo and Talandira Chigaula , and the two base midfielders, a combination of Wadada Msowoya, Asuman Julious and Robert Saizi Gomez who together with Salima have been called into the Flames Camp.

The centre-halves almost toy with the opposition, taunting and teasing them, daring them to press the ball and free up passing lanes which they can exploit. The build up saw Wadada Msowoya having a go-to-goal but he blazed his effort into the air.

Basked in euphoria after having a bigger potion of possession, All Stars opened up at their back and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers capitalised on it to launch a counter-attack through Gaddie Chirwa whose pass was mistimed by Christopher Kumwembe after 18 minutes.

After the barren stalemate in the first 45 minutes, All Stars continued to pose threats to Wanderers through Salima, Saizi and Saviel but Gabeya’s Wall was analogous to the task.

Bangwe with the mixture of youngsters and experienced ,encourage a high-wire possession tightrope style of football, all risk or reward. Get it right, which they regularly do, and they suddenly can have four or five attackers breaking on your back four. Get it wrong, and they are susceptible to counter-attacks

At a time when the Nomads blinked Bangwe nearly stabbed. There was a bigger gap between Mpinganjira and Gabeya and Mologen placed the ball between them to find Robert Saizi Gomez who went on a one-on-one situation with goalie Williams Thole but he opted to lay the ball to Lino with Lawrence Chaziya to the rescue.

Against the run of play, Wanderers were ahead after 54 minutes and the Nomads could have heard a pin drop inside the Kamuzu Stadium. Gaddie Chirwa was in the thick of things when he run past two defenders before setting up Kumwembe who latched on to the pass to press the ball against the back of the net.

Stanley Sanudi doubled the lead four minutes later after winning the penalty. Its the second penalty for the Nomads this season.

Bangwe have now failed to score in two Conservative games and their next game is against Silver Strikers while the Nomads are facing Chitipa United at Kamuzu Stadium before travelling to Karonga to face the Ingwina.