Three TNM Super League home matches played, two draws and one loss—these are the unpleasant statistics Be Forward Wanderers will carry into today’s combat against Red Lions at Kamuzu Stadium.
Not that the Lions’ one away win in four matches is any better, but when you are five-time league champions and your big name is Wanderers, then the Lali Lubani Road demands nothing short of a home win.
Such a demand will be no different today as coach, Eddingtone Ng’onamo, searches for his and the Nomads’ first league maximum points of 2016, having played seven games and collected a miserable eight points.
“We need to win the game because we are so behind in the race. I was given a five-game target and I am now remaining with four. I believe the players will deliver the goods,” Ng’onamo told Times Radio on Thursday.
Placed on an unfamiliar 13th place partly owing to the least league games they have played, Wanderers warmed-up for the Zomba soldiers by beating MTV Max Bullets 2-1 in a Presidential Cup mid-week clash at the same Blantyre venue.
Peter Wadabwa and Isaac Kaliati scored against Max Bullets, hence a lot will be expected from the duo. Wanderers’ problems are more about inability to get out of their blocks quickly in a game.
There is also a lack a cool head in attack to bring balance and creativity to provide decent supplies upfront.
Lions were until recently a bogey team for Wanderers, but they have lost their roar despite that they have a strong side blessed with attackers such as Boniface Kaulesi, Loti Chawinga and last season’s Golden Boot Award joint-awardee, Kumbukani Mwambeni.
The Lions are 12th with 10 points from 10 games.
In the Lions’ midfield, there is the hugely underrated Chikoti Chirwa, who can break attacks and link up play with the Benesi Kaisi-led defence. It does seem that today’s game will be decided in midfield.
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