Barely few days after the start of Carlsberg Malawi cup national round, the soccer fraternity has been filled with surprise as small teams from lower leagues have claimed glory and proceed to another round after beating big teams from the super league.
Bullets fc was cursed down 2-1 by a Simama Mzuzu and district football league giant killer super eagles at Mzuzu stadium on Saturday. The people’s team could be said to have gone into the pitch with overconfidence having won their previous Tnm super league game comfortably against Azam tigers 2-0 courtesy of their willy-nilly scorer Gabadinho Mhango. With media reports and comments that the bullets fc faces a fair side in the first round, the technical panel decided to make an experiment line up. Among others, they trusted the posts with Swadick Sanudi who has not been playing regularly after returning from his South Africa football side.
However, the experiment started to prove costly when the posts guard felt like dreaming after two hurricane shots went past him into the net within the first half. The wonder kid Gabadinho also unfortunately failed to perform his usual play before his childhood friends because of an injunction obtained by the solid defense of the youthful but skillful side. Owen Chaima came in for Swadick Sanudi at half time, but it was Heston Munthali who rediscovered the scoring formula by netting a consolation goal. However, it was not enough to calm down the sting of Eagles though their goalie was red-carded, because they had done it all in the first half. Final whistle Super Eagles 2 Bullets fc 1 and the police had to intervene with teargas to disperse the chaos that erupted thereafter.
In Blantyre, it was Karonga vendors who dumped Blantyre united 1-0 at the BAT ground courtesy of a 2nd minute strike from Isaac Mwagomba. Civo united also booted out Bvumbwe Research 1-0.
On the other hand, it was a no mercy weekend for Mighty Wonderers, Silver Strikers and Moyale fc.
At Balaka stadium the Mighty Wonderers squashed Cobbe barrack 5-0 to erase their melancholy performance in their previous weekend’s Tnm super league games. The result means that they will automatically meet Blue Eagles in the round of 16. This brings a temptation for the Lali Lubani side to revenge the defeat they suffered at the hands of the Blue Eagles in their last meeting.
Silver strikers massacred support battalion 5-1 while Moyale fc squeezed down Thondwe fc 3-0. Blue Eagles triumphed 2-1 over Maicc fc.
From the results, people must expect a different performance in the coming rounds. Small teams have already sent strong messages across that undermining them would be as costly as facing David with his sling.
“With fresh memories of what put a full stop to the cup in the past years, it is high time before it worsens to plead with all spectators not to resort to violence when their team lose. If you lose, perhaps it has not been your day, your opponent had prepared more than yourself and so forth. Let's allow families to come to the stadiums and enjoy themselves. Don’t forget our usual saying that we use when we get disappointed by the national team: ngakhale taluza tikadyabe (although we have lost we will have our normal eating)” said Thoko Mbewe, a soccer lover from Blantyre.
“Who would want to miss the dribbles of Joseph Kamwendo, the goalkeeper punishers like Roddrick Gonani, Gerald yellowman Phiri, and many others. Don’t forget posts military guarding of Amadu Ali, Chipuwa, Swini and others. While enjoying the excellence of Messi, Ronaldo, RVP, Rooney, Drogba and others, let’s start domestically with Mecium, Lihuhu, Mwamtengere, Masoatheka and other local prayers in the Carlsberg Malawi cup.” Said Jones Kalima, from Ndirande.
