Silver Strikers new signing Chimwemwe Idana was handed a slightly different role as the Bankers played out a goalless draw with Kamuzu Barracks in a preseason friendly played on Wednesday at Bingu National Stadium.
The former FCB Nyasa Bullets deep laying holding midfielder was selected to play on a number 10 role to operate in spaces between central midfield and front line.
Behind Idana in midfield there was also Maxwell Paipi deployed in a new role. Paipi was pushed to the midfield position as he partnered Chikondi Kamanga in a double pivot defensive midfield paring.
This only worked when defending but their link up with Idana in front of them proved to be difficult resulting to the teams failure to breakup play effectively from the middle pack.
The team failed to provide more direct threat on goal due to its ineffectiveness in the midfield. This was evident when the team had only three shots ontarget from wingers Duncan Nyoni and Zebron Kalima while their front line compatriot Atusaye Nyondo was silent for about an hour before being substituted.
Mark Fodya is another player who was swapped from his usual leftback role for central defence position.
Fodya showed his versatility by moving across into central defence to partner Nickson Mwase as de Jongh opted to use Tatenda M’balaka in the left back position while Innocent Shema was handed his usual right back role.
The former Wizard FC man proved a revelation in the role as he helped Charles Thom and the Bankers to keep clean sheet against the Kamuzu Barracks front of Kelvin Hanganda and Olson Kanjira.
There was an improvement interms of attacking for the part of Bankers when Emmanuel Kaunga ,Chinsisi Maonga, Francis Nyirenda, Emmanuel Muyira, Patrick Macheso and Uchizi Vunga were introduced for Mark Fodya, Chimwemwe Idana, Duncan Nyoni, Atusaye Nyondo, Maxwell Paipi and Chikondi Kamanga but to crack KB’s defense maned by Helbert Wayekha, Francis Zaulombo, Hope Namadzunda and Nashon Halazi proved impossible.
It remains to be seen if the changes of positions were just experimental or it’s in the plans of Bankers coach de Jong since it was their first friendly match against elite side ahead of 2023 season which kicks off this Sunday.
