This
site is designed for Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator versions
4 and above and a screen resolution of at least 800x600
|
|
|
Saints baffle Nomads
By
Garry Chirwa - 18-06-2002 |
|
|
It was like watching a mordern E-Class Merc fuelled full tank on the fast lane, as MDC United engaged an extra gear, bewildering MTL Wanderers who went down 3-0 in a Group B clash of the K25 million BP Top 8 at MDC Ground in Chilomoni Township on Sunday afternoon.
The magical Saints brought the Nomads’ revival to a shuddering halt with a baffling brand of football and in under 30 minutes they had the game sewn up.
More astonishing was Nomads’ coach Stuart Mbolembole’s admission that his troops were dazed by the stakes in this exceptional showpiece.
“I think we lost the game psychologically, the stakes in this competition are high and my team is panicking. As a result, we lost concentration and we were totally disorganised,” Mbolembole said.
However, the Nomads coach brushed aside suggestions that the times of misery were back at Lali Lubani Road after eight straight wins.
“I don’t think so, we just have to go back to our drawing board and try to lift the spirits again. We shouldn’t be written off just because of this result, we’ll recover eventually,” Mbolembole said.
MDC’s flamboyant team manager Simon Mkandawire said after the game:
“Wanderers are not our match. We have been having good rides over them for the past two seasons and they should expect more when we meet again in the second round. They are not a team that can give us sleepless nights and they know it.”
One of the biggest sins in this beautiful game, is to lose possession needlessly and Nomads’ mdfielder Lawrence ‘Tico-Tico’ Majawa paid dearly for that just five minutes into the game when his back pass was met by thankful Heston Munthali.
In a blur of action, the Saints’ hitman made a quick turn and then swept home a right footer that went on the far post for the opener.
Mapopa Musukwa, recipient of the K10,000 man-of-the-match award, made matters worse in the 26th minute.
A cross flighted with precision by midfielder Chris ‘Waddle’ Mpesi was flicked on to Musukwa by Munthali and the little striker was at it in a flash, and rifled the ball past Nomads’ goalkeeper Varis Kamzere.
The Lali Lubani side was severely depleted and barely two minutes later, Munthali put the encounter out of reach when he swung upfield to plant home Clement Kafwafwa’s trademark throw-in.
The Nomads midfield of captain Sherry Msuku, who later on trudged off the pitch injured, Majawa, Mike Maganga and Maxwell Chirwa was completely off-form and was completely outshone by Mpesi, Chiyembekezo Zidana and Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi. Thango Chauma and Dave ‘Ngeya’ Kamanga were also a handful.
A suitably jolted Nomads side, which once again surprisingly reduced the dangerous trio of Gift Zakazaka, Andrew ‘Aluki’ Chikhosi and Tendai ‘Tegu’ Mbisa to the bench, woke up in the second half but found it hard to piece together their usual game.
|
|
|
|
|
|
