Rachael Kaphaizi

Isaac Kaliati’s penalty, scored in added time of the first half at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday was enough to help Mighty Mukuru Wanderers win the first leg of their quarter final match against Bangwe All Stars in the Airtel Top 8.

From the start, it looked like Wanderers would pump a lot of goals on Bangwe, a team that is struggling in the Super League, sitting second from bottom on the log table, having just won twice in 19 games.

However, it was a different game all together and Bangwe left Kamuzu Stadium with hope to return the favour against Wanderers in the second leg which will be played at Mpira Stadium.

Their coach Trevor Kajawa, who just took charge of the team last week following his appointment, replacing Rodgers Yasin, said he is not worried with the result as he is hoping to turn the tables in the return leg.

“We came to hold Wanderers as you saw in the first half, closing spaces so that they should not score. However, they were given a penalty. In the second half we tried to attack but failed to level scores, however we will take the match to our home ground. We will fix our problems, and I am sure we will turn the tables,” he said.

Wanderers coach Meck Mwase also hopes to do well when they face Bangwe in the second leg match. 

“We had a lot of chances in the first half but we missed them, but I knew they [Bangwe] would come hard on us, we will go back and see where we missed it and come again stronger, it is our hope that we will progress in this tournament,” he said.

Kaliati’s penalty came in the fifth minute of added time in the first half after a Bangwe defender handled the ball inside the penalty box.

Throughout the first half, Wanderers found numerous chances through striker Thierry Sama but wasted them.

The Camereonian striker missed four chances in this half and two in the second half, which forced Mwase to replace him with Clement Nyondo.

In Sundays, other match:

Newcomers to the Airtel Top 8 tournament, Chitipa United, announced their arrival in style by defeating Kamuzu Barracks 2-0 in the first leg played at Karonga stadium. Trouble Kajani scored a brace to steal the show.

Reacting to the win, Chitipa United coach, Christopher Nyambose emphasized the importance of keeping emotions in check.

His opposite number Charles Kamanga, acknowledged that his team struggled to control Chitipa United’s attacking threat.
“I cannot say much about the exact position where it went wrong, but what I can say is we have lost and congratulations to Chitipa,” Kamanga stated.