Be Forward Wanderers Coach Bob Mpinganjira should be hunting for his first win since taking over the reign when his charges meet former TNM Super League champions Kamuzu Barracks (KB) at Kasungu Stadium Saturday afternoon.
There are more than maximum points at stake in this meeting between the current champions and the 2016 kings, KB. Both teams badly need redemption.
Since taking over from Yasin Osman who was pushed upstairs as Technical Director, Mpinganjira has lost 1-0 and 2-1 to Red Lions and Nyasa Big Bullets, respectively, in two consecutive weeks, to plunge the blue side of Blantyre into panic.
The loss to Bullets at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe last Saturday saw the Nomads exiting the Airtel Top 8.
Wanderers have lost thrice in all competitions this season, two in the league, to see them placed 12th on the log table with eight points from six games, 13 points behind the leaders Bullets who have played nine matches.
The margin by which Wanderers lose most games suggests that it is more about failing to score than defending. Osman alluded to this fact after the Airtel Top 8 semi-final defeat.
“We lost the game which we should have won. That has been the case this season. We play well but we don’t take our chances. We will keep on fighting. It is not new in football. We will get over it,” Osman said.
It appears that Wanderers are yet to identify a reliable scorer among Esau Kanyenda—last season’s top scorer with eight goals—Khumbo Ng’ambi, Julius Kajembe and Zicco Mkanda.
In contrast, KB are coming from a 2-1 win over Dwangwa United last weekend. Such a win pushed the Temwa Msuku side to sixth place on the log table with 15 points from 10 games.
Winger World Nkuliwa and attacker Sammy Chiponda scored for KB last weekend and surely, they should be looking forward to increasing their tally. KB’s other options upfront include aggressive striker Manase Chiyesa.
Dave Banda keeps the midfield ticking with his ball winning and passing skills whereas Blessings Kawanga, Peter Mpulula and Diof Simaone have looked solid in defence.
KB are dangerous on set pieces and their long balls floated behind the defence can hurt Wanderers. The only way the Nomads can win this game is by ensuring that they are clinical upfront.
In case, Wanderers players need lessons in finishing, then they can always learn from Bob.
In another game, Dwangwa host Bullets at Chitowe Stadium where the People’s Team’s former coach Llyod Nkhwazi surely has something to prove following unimpressive results of late.
Dwangwa are underdogs going into this match whereas Bullets are the favourites. But Bullets veteran winger Fischer Kondowe does not look at this game this way.
“We are in form and our confidence is high after that win over Wanderers. The challenge is for us not to be complacent. There are times when we have lost immediately after winning a high-profile match. We need to forget about last week’s result and focus on the job at hand,” Kondowe said.
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