Kamuzu Barracks (KB) have shifted to the third place in the TNM Super League following a 1-0 win over the League’s second placed Ekhaya FC at Champions Stadium in Mponela, Dowa on Saturday.
The Lilongwe based Soldiers currently have 9 points secured from 5 games. The encountered goal arrived in the 45th minute, from Zeliati Nkhoma.
Nkhoma unmistakably converting a well-timed assist from John Mchema who had given him a sprinting cross.
The game began as a balanced affair, with KB creating the first threat in the 3rd minute after Hadji James fouled Gregory Nachipo.
Standing a very dangerous angle, six yards from the 18-yard box, Nachipo swiped the free kick which went straight onto the bar.
The 5th minute saw Ekhaya doing what could easily be described as counter attack, through a sequence of sharp passes between midfielders Clever Chikwata, Mwayi Banda, and Lovemore Mbeta but this wasn’t enough to beat KB defender Mike Ntonyo who tactically cleared the danger.
Mbeta, again, Showed a rare bravado in the 8th minute but he was stopped from converting inside the eight-yard box.
Ekhaya’s could not stop pressuring the soldiers as in the 16th minute Andrew Lameck smacked it against KB goalkeeper Hastings Banda who made a very crucial contact to the ball and ignited a corner kick.
The 30th and 32nd minutes saw KB releasing fire shots and tactics but all attempts were timely cleared.
First, Nachipo’s shot was blocked by Ekhaya’s Kesteni Simbi and then, Mchema’s free kick went off target after Innocent Msowoya fouled Anold Masamba.
Initially, Nachipo’s shot was blocked by Ekhaya’s Kesteni Simbi before Mchema’s was awarded a free kick which went off target after Innocent Msowoya fouled Anold Masamba.
KB ‘s first submission came in the 37th minute, when Lumbani Mkandawire was slotted in to replace Masamba. Two minutes later, Mchema missed a clear one-on-one opportunity against Ekhaya goalkeeper Elias Missi, moments before Nkhoma sealed the lead.
In the second half, Ekhaya came with a different mind, intended on attacking but failed to crucial contacts. In the 60th minute, they slotted in Hermas Masinka and Wongani Kaponya for Hadji James and Mbeta.
KB had their own Changes that saw Mchema replacing Lumbani Mkandawire, and Olson Kanjira for Shuiten Mhango.
The rest of the game was a tick tacker, as both teams defended impressively to stop their opponents from dominating their protected places especially in the goalkeeper boxes. This was contrary to the coaches intentions who thought of attacking using their substitutions in search of a breakthrough.
Kamuzu Barracks Head Coach, Nicholas Mhango, noted that Ekhaya gave them a challenging match but attributed the victory to his charges resilience.
He said ; “We were physical that is why we scored after missing so many chances. I think the problem is with the pitch because we are used with a bare ground unlike this one that is covered.’’
But Ekhaya’s Head coach, Enos Chatama, was not happy with the outcome.
“It is like we have a certain cancer in the team where we are conceding giveaway goals. We conceded a goal which we could have avoided,” he said.
TNM Super League action continues on Sunday with Mighty Wanderers facing Creck Sporting Club at their own back yard, while Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos are set to host Karonga United.
In other matches, Chitipa United will face 2025 league entrants and 2023 relegated side, Blue Eagles at their own back yard.
