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| Sports |
| Zabweka rout BNL |
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by
Gracian Tukula, 18 October 2004
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19:56:01
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It was just as well that Nigeria’s Enyimba were in town. Memories of a wet pitch and a 6-0 drubbing were rekindled on Saturday when high-scoring Zabweka Stars made light work of noisy Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL) in the on-going Mike’s Trading Trailers Direct Trophy at the BAT Ground in Blantyre.
All the talk ahead of the match was about Garry Chirwa, McDonald Chapalapata, Bright Sonani and George Kasakula, but none of them was to be seen in the Zabweka’s famous blue colours for reasons ranging from hangovers to heavy legs.
Instead, it was the unfashionable name of Charles Bonde aka Harry that was on the lips of most fans at the end of the match. The tournament’s leading goal scorer used the occasion to take his tally to nine after he scored five of Zabweka’s goals.
Harry was on the score-sheet as early as the sixth minute and was also instrumental in the second goal five minutes later when he set Jacob Mkandawire to double the defending champions’ advantage in splendid fashion.
Zabweka continued to dominate but their were no goals to tally with their superior levels of ball possession and BNL went to the break a respectable two-goals down.
Buoyed by Tunisia’s feat against Malawi seven days earlier, BNL came in the second half more composed and caused a few scares in the opening stages. Zabweka’s cause seemed under serious threat in the 12th minute when captain and inspirational defender Peter Longwe saw red for failing to control his temper.
Team manager Gracian Tukula reacted to the setback by removing striker Patrick Chisale for defending midfielder Kondwani Khonje. Two minutes later the goals started pouring as Harry turned the match into a personal show.
The first goal of the second half came via the penalty spot when Harry broke through from the right only to be felled in the box as he took aim. The free-scoring striker picked himself up to convert.
He claimed his second hat-trick in three outings three minutes later when he broke through the same flank and beat the goalkeeper from close range. When he scored his fourth and Zabweka’s fifth goal, it was time to bring on the tired legs of Mabvuto Banda, and man did he need the run-out!
But Harry was not done and saved the best for last, soaring in the sky to claim the sixth with a diving header that had Weekend Nation editor Steven Nhlane — who shied away from putting on his boots just minutes from kickoff — all praises for Zabweka’s latest sensation. BNL were dead and buried. |
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