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| Sports |
| Civo open 4-point gap |
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by
Leonard Sharra, 15 March 2005
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16:31:53
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Mafco 1
Civo 2
High-flying Civil Service United (Civo) on Sunday opened a four-point gap at the summit of the Super League after edging Salima-based soldiers Mafco 2-1 in a tough encounter played before a good crowd at Lilongwe Community Centre ground.
The civil servants had to survive a strong challenge from the soldiers who seemed unprepared to give away six points within 24 hours— having lost 1-0 to Silver Strikers at the same venue the previous day.
Led by Red Lions-bound striker Malumbo Mkandawire and enjoying vocal support from ganyu fans (mercenaries) who mostly comprised Bakili Bullets fans, the soldiers kept surging into Civo’s territory in the second half.
The tale could also have been different if referee Simon Jovinala had taken a hard-line on the servants whose defender Charles Beni appeared to have handled in the heat of things.
A relieved Civo mentor Young Chimodzi was all smiles after the final whistle, saluting his boys for containing the charging soldiers.
“It was a tough game and we did not play well. But the important thing is that we have carried the maximum points and are still on top,” said Chimodzi.
But his counterpart Franco Ndawa, who is linked with a move to Red Lions expressed disappointment with officiation.
“The referee, who officiated our game yesterday (Patrick Kapanga) was just excellent and we were ourselves to blame for losing that match. But today’s officiation has been erratic,” said Ndawa.
An early bird catches the worm and Chimodzi should thank his boys for doing it when the soldiers were still sleeping in the early moments.
Striker Dyton Chizuze found the net nine minutes into the game, dive-heading a cross from hardworking defender Elvis Kafoteka. Before the soldiers could realise what was hitting them, pint-sized striker Noel Mkandawire made it 2-0 with a hard shot from a Young Chimodzi Jr pass.
Chimodzi Jr laid the foundation for the goal when he dribbled past three defenders before leaving the rest to Mkandawire. The son to the former Flames defence pillar had a grand game and some fans opposed to his father’s decision to substitute him for Gerald Nkungula in the second half. But the father stood his ground.
Mafco reduced the arrears 27 minutes into the game when Noel Kasambala connected in a shorter corner kick taken by Mkandawire.
With their two victories over the weekend, Civo have now 14 points from six games with second placed Bakili Bullets, who dropped two points against Super Escom, having 10 points from four games.
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