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| Sports |
| Winners against losers |
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by
Garry Chirwa, 05 September 2003
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14:54:40
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Quite a tall order but the bridge doesn’t appear that far. The flashy K30.7 million BP Top eight rolls into the third week with losers of the inaugural matches out to prove that fuel in their tanks hasn’t run dry yet.
In Group A, Blue Eagles who were worryingly brushed aside 3-1 at home by Moyale Barracks last weekend face yet another uphill task tomorrow when they engage steamrolling Bakili Bullets at Chichiri Stadium.
Hard-up MDC United who were also put to the sword by the Bullets with a 4-1 comprehensive destruction, set on a wearisome voyage to the North for a no-holds barred clash against Moyale Barracks at Mzuzu Stadium tomorrow.
Still showing off the science of football and the pass-and-move-philosophy learnt from the United Kingdom, the Bullets get a litmus test against the cops who time and again, have been a thorn in their flesh.
Since their return from Europe, the Bullets have shown no mercy in the bombardment of opponents coming their way—the Soccer Saints and more recently Civo could bear testimony.
It is a storm that has seen them bang in eight goals against only one and their extraordinary dominance on the local scene in the recent past, often freezes the opposition.
The Bullets’ team manager Ophman Kondowe boasted in an interview on Friday that his side will produce their full repertoire of skills which will stun the cops.
“We have stepped on the accelerator and we are not applying any brakes. The opening game against MDC was just an exhibition of what we learnt from the UK and now we will go flat out,” said Kondowe.
Coincidentally, both teams’ trumpcards, Bullets’ midfielder Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi and Eagles’ netbuster Dick Malidadi have just been crowned players of the season.
Eagles’ coach Schubert Kuwali said in an interview from Lilongwe that his troops are dying to turn the Bullets’ impressive statistics to dust and halt their recent unbeaten run in its tracks.
“We are calling on the officiating personnel to take a firm line, otherwise we are geared for the match...we are not travelling to Blantyre as underdogs,” said Kuwali.
A win for Bullets and Moyale will mean automatic qualification into the semis and it is a must for both Eagles and Saints to win their games tomorrow to keep their chances in the competition nicely on the boil.
In Group B, leaders MTL Wanderers who beat defending champions Silver Strikers 2-0 in their opening fixture, date Admarc Tigers at Chichiri Stadium this afternoon in another potentially explosive fixture.
The Kau-Kau boys, as Tigers are popularly known, cannot afford to lose the game after going down 1-0 to Dwasco in Dwangwa last weekend.
Experienced midfielder Sherry Msuku, who inflicted an afternoon of torment on the bankers, mocking all those who have had been reckoning him as a diminished footballing force—he should be on song again today.
Joseph Kamwendo, who has proved beyond doubt as a gifted young star, Gift Makoloni, Allan Kamanga, Lawrence ‘Tico-Tico’ Majawa, Maxwell Chirwa, Muzipasi Mwangonde and Haji Tambala should run the show too for the nomads.
On the other hand, Tigers will bank their hopes on the Ngwira brothers Jacob and Kuruwa, Fundi Akidu, Sam Somozani, Rodrick Wazili, Lester ‘Chacho’ Mopiha and Rodrick Gonani.
In another Group B fixture, Dwasco travel to the capital tomorrow for a head-to-head against defending champs Silver at the latter’s backyard in Area 47. |
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