Photo Credit: Silver Strikers FC
Silver Strikers FC beat Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos 5-2 before being crowned TNM Super League champions for the eighth time and the first time in 11 years at a packed Silver Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday afternoon.
Playmaker Chimwemwe Idana put the Lilongwe heavyweights ahead with a seventh-minute finish as they went to break leading 1-0 on a humid afternoon. Dedza did equalize two minutes after the restart through Gilbert Magola’s goal.
However, the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored side responded emphatically. Winger Duncan Nyoni added his name to the scoresheet with a well-worked goal from a rebound after a corner kick.
Eventually, Gift Chunga and Zebros Kalima sealed the deal to hand Peter Mponda his first league title as a stand-alone coach and end his childhood club FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ five-year monopoly of the league title. A minute before full-time, forward Precious Kamwendo scored Dedza’s second goal with a minute to full-time.
Silver Strikers celebrate a goal in their 5-2 victory over Dedza Dynamos
Photo Credit: Silver Strikers FC
Silver wrapped the season on 67 points, nine points ahead of second-placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers who won 2-0 away over Moyale Barracks at Mzuzu Stadium in the Northern Region.
Mischeck Botomani’s 21st minute header and Isaac Kaliyati’s 71st minute strike, and his 17th of the season as the Golden Boot Award-winner sealed the win for Wanderers.
In Blantyre, third-placed Bullets edged Kamuzu Barracks 1-0 via attacking midfielder Stanley Billiat’s deflected strike for Kalisto Pasuwa’s men who wound up the season on 55 points.
With the top-four face settled, attention swung to the lower half of the 16-member table where Bangwe All-Stars and FOMO United, the only team to hand Silver a loss, joined Baka City in getting relegated to the second-tier regional leagues.
FOMO needed a win to survive the chop but they could only afford a goalless draw on the road at Karonga United whereas Bangwe crumbled to a home 4-1 loss at the hands of Creck Sporting Club.
Going into the final lap of the league, Chitipa were placed second from bottom and looked unsafe from relegation. However, they beat fellow Northern Region based side Baka 3-1 to survive the drop.
Three regional champions will replace the relegated teams in the elite league which mobile service providers TNM sponsors.
Final Super League Table (Top 5)
Games Played | Points | |
| 30 | 67 |
| 30 | 58 |
| 30 | 55 |
| 30 | 48 |
| 30 | 43 |
Comments