Super League of Malawi (SULOM) has scheduled exciting matches, including the Lilongwe derby between Blue Eagles and Silver Strikers which will take centre stage in the Week 2 of the 2023 TNM Super League season.
Defending Champions FCB Nyasa Bullets host MAFCO, while Mighty Mukuru Wanderers face a trip outside Blantyre to play Red Lions and Kamuzu Barracks take on Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar.
Here’s a look at the scheduled for Week 2:
Saturday’s clash at Nankhaka Stadium is gearing up to be a good one, with both Eagles and Bankers entering the match on the back of home draws against Red Lions and FCB Nyasa Bullets, respectively. Both teams will be looking to register their first wins, so fans should be ready for a mouthwatering encounter.
The hosts have won two of their last Super League matches against Silver Strikers, beating them 1-0 in both rounds of 2022 League season. The Bankers registered their last win over Blue Eagles on 22nd August 2021.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the match, Silver Strikers coach Pieter de Jongh acknowledges Blue Eagles recent dominance over his team but he has promised to get a result.
“I understand we lost both games against them last season but that is not something that will pull me or the team back. We are focused on the game on Saturday and don’t expect anything than a win. We are going to take the game to them at their own backyard”, he said.
In their first game of the season the Bankers came from behind at Bingu National Stadium to force a 1-1 draw thanks to Nickson Mwase’s second half header that cancelled out FCB Nyasa Bullets early lead through Lanjesi Nkhoma.
Despite Mwase scoring a vital goal for the Area 47 outfit, it was new signing Chimwemwe Idana who stole the headlines after pulling the strings in attack that earned him Man Of The Match award and he will be a man to watch again this weekend.
For the part of Blue Eagles, Coach Elia Kananji said he is aware that Silver Strikers will be aiming for a revenge but his is well prepared.
“We beat them home and away last season and this time around they will come flat out with an aim of revenging but as Blue Eagles we are looking forward to continue where we stopped last season” said Kananji
In a game against Red Lions that ended 1-1 at Nankhaka Stadium last weekend Micium Mhone was Voted Man of the match, after his excellent displays. Mhone who scored an opener before Lions’ equalizer through Humphrey’s Minandi, is expected to be a man to watch for the part of the Cops.
The game will be officiated by Alfred Chilinda, assisted by Charles Lulaka and Samson Wasili while Chidziwitso Simbi and Gabriel Mhone will be fourth official and Match commissioner respectively.
Another derby this weekend will take place at Karonga Stadium between the hosts Karonga United and Chitipa United.
This will again be an interesting match considering the fact that Karonga United have never won a TNM Super League match against Chitipa United. The two sides met four times from 2019-21 as Chitipa United dominated the fixture with one win and three draws before being relegated to the lower League. So Karonga United will be looking to win and set a new record.
Karonga United new signing Justin Banda who won Man of the Match against Moyale Barracks that ended 1-1 last Saturday will be a centre of attraction after making controversial switch from Chitipa United where he didn’t feature in any game to join Karonga United.
Karonga United coach Kondwa Ikwanga said his approach to the game will be different from last weeks draw with Moyale Barracks.
“This will be a different game with different approach, we drew with Moyale away from home and Iam happy for that because we have been struggling whenever we play them, now we have another assignment and it’s a derby game against Chitipa United which is also a good team but with our game plan I believe we will get maximum points” said Kondwa Ikwanga
His opponent Macdonald Mtetemela has urged more support from Chitipa United fans.
“We should expect a very good game and they should continue supporting their team, I urge them to come in large numbers and witness how we will grab three points” said Mtetemela
Deus Nyirongo has been handed to role to be a centre referee. Peri Kumwenda and Martin Kaoneka will be assistants and Tobias Chitani is the Fourth Official while Zuza Nyondo will be Match Assessor.
Another Saturday’s fixture will be between Red Lions hosting League leaders Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
On paper, Wanderers should walk all over Red Lions given the Nomads good start of the season but Saturday’s meeting with the Zomba based Soldiers shouldn’t be overlooked, either. The Lions have struggled for consistency since the pre season, but on their good days, they’ve looked capable of hanging with the very best the Super League has to offer.
After conceding alot during the pre-season, The Lions went into last Sunday’s match against 2022 runners up Blue Eagles as underdogs but they pulled out a surprise 1-1 draw at Nankhaka Stadium.
Mwayi Msungama has been tasked to officiate the game assisted by Happiness Mbandambanda and Mussa Grant. Cedric Mwachumu will be Fourth Official while the Match Assessor will be Damson Banda.
The last match on Saturday is a mini Blantyre Derby between newcomers Bangwe All Stars and Mighty Wakawaka Tigers at Mpira Mpira Stadium.
This will be their first meeting in the TNM Super League but both have started brightly.
Mighty Wakawaka Tigers grabbed three points in their first match last Sunday when they beat debutants Extreme FC 2-1 while Bangwe All Stars gave away a 1-0 lead to draw 1-1 with Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar FC at Dedza Stadium.
The Centre Referee will be Marko Dzimbassekwa while assistants are Benardetta Kwimbira and Charles Chataika. The role of fourth official has been given to Honest Maulana while Hastings Mtuntha is the Match Assessor.
Sunday, FCB Nyasa Bullets will host MAFCO FC at Kamuzu Stadium in another tough encounter this weekend.
Memories are fresh for the People’s Team when they suffered against MAFCO at Dedza Stadium, their only TNM Super League defeat last season and they will be looking to revenge from that embarrassment. On the other hand The Salima based Soldiers would want to continue where they left last season making the game more exciting.
Looking at their last eight meetings, Bullets looks favorites on paper after winning four times and losing once but the goal margins have always been small, a clear indication of how difficult the fixture is.
Last season, Nyasa Big Bullets won the first round match 1-0 before their second round defeat with the same margin and in 2021 the two sides drew 1-1 in both rounds of the League. Now MAFCO has started well with a 2-1 victory over Chitipa United and lays second on the table, unlike Bullets who stays 7th after drawing with Silver Strikers last Saturday.
The Centre Referee will be Gift Chicco assisted by Joseph Nyauti and Henry Belo. Happy Ng’ambi and Moffat Champiti will be fourth official and Match Assessor respectively.
Civo Service United will have to dust themselves off after losing 2-0 to Mighty Wanderers, but their home encounter against Extreme FC will hardly provide the ideal opportunity as the newcomers will also looking to recover from last weeks 2-1 defeat in the hands of Mighty Wakawaka Tigers.
Both Extreme FC and Civo Service United who have so far occupied 15th and 16th positions respectively will be aiming for victories to climb up the log table and the fact that the game will take place at the official home ground for both teams, it’s expected to be a cracking game this Sunday at the Civo Stadium.
The game is in the hands of Easter Zimba while Evance Msonda and Limbani John will assist him. Fourth Official is Davie Chombo and Boswell Msango is the Match Assessor.
At Mzuzu Stadium on Sunday, Ekwendeni Hammers will play host to Moyale Barracks in a Mzuzu Derby.
Both sides are coming from draws over the weekend as Ekwendeni played out a goalless draw with Kamuzu Barracks while Moyale Barracks drew 1-1 with Karonga United. A win will be vital for both sides as it will lift them up on the table.
But looking at their last four meetings, Moyale has been dominant over Ekwendeni Hammers, winning twice and drawing twice.
This derby will be handled by Misheck Juba as the centre referee. The linesmen will be Mabvuto Godoya and Harrison Simbeyi. Fourth Official will be Meluce Nyirongo and Match Assessor is Tchutchu Gondwe.
Concluding this week’s fixtures, Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar will be dating Kamuzu Barracks FC at Dedza Stadium.
Dynamos were held to a shock 1-1 draw against debutants Bangwe All while KB played out a goalless draw with Ekwendeni Hammers over the weekend as indicated above.
The two sides have met twice last season with Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar wining the first round while the Kamuzu Barracks revenging in the return fixture. Now it won’t be easy task for both teams as they are in search of their first victories of the season.
The referee will be Jimmy Phiri and his assistants are Paul Makwale and Yohane Chiutika. Fourth Official is Peter Jossam and the Match Assessor is Christina Chioko.
