TNM Super League side, Bangwe All Stars have roped in Thumbs Up top scorer, Clever Chikwata from Ntopwa FC as they are beefing up their squad.
With the new season rolling out this afternoon, the Blantyre-based side are facing elite league debutants, Friends of Mulanje Orphans at the Mulanje Park Stadium.
The Atlas Malawi understands that the goal-poacher signed a two-year contract with Bangwe after a successful season with Ntopwa who lost to FOMO FC in the finals of the Southern Region Thumbs Up Premier Division.
Ntopwa FC Head Coach and owner, Jomo Isaac Osman confirmed the development in an interview on Friday but refused the amount of money that Bangwe coughed for the transfer.
“Yes, I can confirm that Clever [Chikwata] is with Bangwe but I can’t reveal the details of the deal,” said Osman in a short response.
Bangwe All Stars have been one of the teams which have been busy on the transfer market, signing three Karonga United players, Davie Tobias, Erik Atsigah, Josiah Duwa, Extreme FC attacker, Gregory Mwase, Big Bullets midfielder, Felix Demakude among others.
After doing business on the transfer market, Head Coach, Christopher Nyambose believes that the team is 80% ready for the new season with their trip to Mulanje on Saturday.
“I can say that the guys are geared for the game and season,” he tells the Club’s Media. “The first game is very important and the players know this. If we open the season with a win, the boys will be confident enough even when we play either home or away.
“FOMO FC will be playing at home and we shouldn’t underrate them after failing to perform at the Betika tournament, this is a very tricky fixture and we need to be serious.”
Bangwe All Stars lost some of their best 2023 performers with Robert Saizi joining Zambia’s topflight side, Zanaco Football Club while Chikumbutso Salima, Emmanuel Saviel, and Yamikani Mologen returned to the parent club, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets after the expiry of their one-year loan deal.
7Bangwe finished sixth last season in the TNM Super League and Mphatso Jika, the owner of the team outlined his ambition this season as he looks to break in the traditional top three.