The first stanza of the melancholic football display has been closed in sheer glamour, the frenzy is still resonating, though. Undoubtedly one of the highly and tightly contested first round of the elite league ever seen in recent years.
A thrilling battle that has left football enthusiasts craving for more. The ecstasy and drama on and off the field the play, has been worth the billing.
Every other reader, before reading anything from this piece, will begin by word-searching, to see where Chitipa United has been captured, lest they will ignore the digestion as a mere folktale. No writer would dare, I wouldn’t either.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets finished the first round of the campaign as pole bearers with 30 points, but it is not them who are making headlines, third-placed Chitipa United only allocated by goal difference, is by far, the toast of the first round.
Newly promoted from the second tier league, Chitipa United started their campaign, as relegation contenders, losing away to MAFCO by 2 goals to 1, as if they were earliest suitors to the chopping three, they drew 2 all to neighbors Karonga United.
They thought they had rediscovered their winning after formula after seeing off Dedza United by 3 goals to 1 at home, only to lose against Blue Eagles in their subsequent match at Nankhaka.
Their home win against fellow strugglers and new entrants Extreme FC, then, was not taken seriously, to the prediction of bookmakers, they indeed lost to Ekwendeni Hammers 1 nil at Mzuzu Stadium.
Their resurgence started with the famous lone goal victory at Kamuzu Stadium against Mighty Mukuru Wanderers. They established themselves as giant killing gladiators, when they won against league champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at Karonga Stadium, making them the only team to have collected maximum points from
Bullets in the first round of the campaign. They faltered away to Red Lions at Balaka stadium narrowly losing by a goal to nil the following week. Like a marauding lion that has escaped a starvation cage, they collected maximum points against Bangwe All Stars, Kamuzu Barracks, Mighty Tigers, Civil United and Moyale FC, only dropping two points in a goalless encounter against Silver strikers, to emerge a team with the highest number of wins in the first round. They have been magical. It might not be too early to mirror them as a 2015-16 Leicester City FC of the TNM Super league.
The first episodes of the first round has further seen sleeping giants resurrecting from their comfort zones to mount a formidable challenge to the coveted crown. Silver Strikers, presided over by an expatriate coach, Pieter De Jongh has been more lethal, and technically organised than they were last season. Arguably, a side that was poised to finish first in the first round, having shown some resilience in critical matches that results seemed not to be on their way.
They still are a team that can snatch the championship away from FCB Nyasa Big Bullets. Similarly, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have revitalized their thick skin, to seriously be counted as contenders, graduating themselves from being perennial lukewarm participants. They are only two points adrift the league leaders, making the competition more exciting and glamorous, as no team seems to running away with it.
The first stanza has seen a number of teams in the middle of the log table being separated largely by goal differences, and single point margin, cementing the very fact that, is being hugely contested.
It might only be Extreme FC who have been in the unfamiliar last spot for the rest of the first half, but they are never down and out. They showed character in their surprise win against Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and ended their last game of the first round, with a deserved win 2-1 against struggling Red Lions FC. They too can never be forsaken.
Last Season’s early pacesetters, Blue Eagles have not replicated their prowess, winning only three games, drawing 7 times, and seated on the losing end 5 times, uncharacteristically perching themselves on 13th position, flapping their wings within relegation touching distances.
There has not been notable exploits from teams like Kamuzu Barracks FC, Moyale Barracks FC, Civil Services United and Mafco, as they swing in positions that they normally occupy. Mighty Tigers have of late, reduced themselves to annual relegation fighters, they have not shaken any dust of the malfunction still, so too is Red Lions FC.
As teams return to the various arena to struck the last football codes, it has not been gazzeted at the top, as to who will grab the final garland so is below the table, no candidate is confirmed chopped. Isn’t this an amazing first round of football? It is!
