Songwe Border United has demonstrated a concerning level of sportsmanship, effectively conceding 24 points to their opponents and remaining with a single point after the first 10 weeks of the 2025 TNM Super League.
Despite playing nine matches, their record stands at one draw and eight losses, firmly placing them at the bottom of the league table.
Meanwhile, the Stars of Karonga are making unwanted history as the first team in the league’s history to concede 25 goals by week ten. Their latest setback was a 3-0 away defeat to Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos, further compounding their ongoing struggles this season.
Gift Magola’s brace and a goal from Tayani Phiri were enough to send the Northerners back home empty-handed. Dedza Dynamos bolstered their midfield with Chifuniro Mpinganjira and Tayani, a formation that signaled their attacking intentions.
The visitors, conversely, aimed to dominate the wings, with Precious Mwanza starting in place of Lewa Nkosi, paired with Geoffrey Tikha Kadzitche, Thomson Manyowa, and Cosma Mwangonde.
Initially, both teams struggled to create significant attacking chances, with the ball largely confined to the center circle.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 33rd minute. After Winston Chimutu of Dedza was solidly tackled and injured, he was replaced by Victor Lungu.
The resulting free-kick, challenged by Thole, led to a corner. Chikufenji’s “knife-like” cross found Magola, who nodded the ball into the net, securing Dedza’s lead at halftime.
The second half saw little change in the visitors’ fortunes as they continued to struggle in the landlords’ half.
In the 53rd minute, Tayani Phiri beautifully struck a shot wide on the mouth of the goal after receiving a precise set-up from Dedza’s Mpinganjira. He clinically slotted it in, extending Dedza’s lead and boosting their attacking momentum.
In an attempt to turn the tide, Songwe United brought in Ngosi for Mwanza, a substitution that failed to have the desired impact. Festus Chikwezga received a pass from Lewa at the edge of the box and converted it, but Dedza’s goalkeeper Shingrairai Thole made crucial saves, including some time-wasting tactics that earned him a yellow card.
United’s fate was sealed in the 77th minute when Magola fired home a rebound from Bright Masebo’s tantalizing shot, which United’s goalkeeper had initially saved. Magola was subsequently voted Man of the Match.
In a post-match interview, a struggling Christopher Nyambose, Songwe’s head coach, attributed his team’s poor performance to a lack of composure and experience.
“My boys are lacking Super League wisdom. We normally play good football, but to maintain the style and create good chances is a problem. We are lacking experienced players. I really need experienced players in the team to provide exposure to the younger ones. I will wait for the transfer window to get experienced players, but for now, I will be pushing these players I have.”
Conversely, Dedza head coach Alex Ngwira expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. “This is one of my early games. I am still building the team, but I was excited with the boys’ performance,” he stated.
Sports analyst Hamdan Nyirongo echoed Nyambose’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for experienced players at Songwe. “Songwe has not changed much. It has the same players that were playing in the lower League. So now they need to mix them with well-experienced players to provide balance,” Nyirongo advised.
With this result, Songwe Border United remains at the bottom of the league, while Dedza Dynamos moves to seventh position, having amassed 13 points from nine games played so far.
In other TNM Super League matches, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets hammered Mighty Tigers 3-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. Mighty Wanderers secured a 3-0 away win over Lilongwe-based soldiers Kamuzu Barracks, maintaining their second position and intensifying their competition with league leaders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
Bullets have 21 points from eight games, while Wanderers have 19 points from seven games.
Elsewhere, Blue Eagles held Silver Strikers to a 1-1 draw at Nankhaka Stadium, and Mzuzu-based Soldiers held Chitipa United to a barren draw at Mzuzu Stadium. Additionally, Karonga United defeated Mzuzu United 2-0.
