Nomads send Fisd Wizards packing

Fisd Wizards’ journey in Malawi’s top tier League has come to an end following a 3-1 defeat to Mighty Wanderers on Sunday afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium.

Wizards needed all the 3 points in order to keep their surviving hopes alive but could not match the Nomads’s pace on the day.

In the seventh minute, Wanderers began to threaten as Jabulani Linje reeled off a strike from long range but his effort was tipped over the crossbar by Brighton Munthali in goals for the rookies.

However, the hosts took a lead in the 20th minute through Linje following who was released by Ibrahim Sadick to slot past Munthali, 1-0.

The visitors almost responded quickly when Mike Mkwate was found unmarked in the penalty box but the latter fired straight at Peter Munthali.

Wizards were threatening as Levison Maganizo, Rafiq Namwera and Mkwate had their shots at goal but Munthali was very much active between the two sticks for the Nomads.

Sadick almost punished the visitors when he was left alone just close to the penalty box but the former Epac FC winger opted for a cheap that went wide off the goal and after 90 minutes of play, it was 1-nil in favor of the Lali Luban boys.

Come second half, Wizards were pressing harder in search for the much needed goals through Mkwate and co but lacked the finishing composure in front of goals.

Twice within a minute, Munthali was forced into action to deny Maganizo and Mkwate from scoring as the two mid-fielders combined well to fire at goal.

Five minutes into the half, Wizards wasted another huge opportunity to level the scores. Enerst Tambe found Namwera who was ahead of Nomads defence, but could not find the target with Munthali producing yet another save.

However, Peter Mponda’s boys leveled the scoreline.

A brilliant display of football from the midfield released Mkwate who made no mistake but to slot past the Nomads shots stopper, 1-1.

Wizards’s lead only lasted for few minutes as Wanderers responded quickly through Alfred Manyozo Jnr who scored from the spot, 2-1.

Knowing their position in the standings, Wizards pushed for an equalizer as chances kept on flowing but could not manage to beat the Nomads’s defence for the second time.

In the 80th minute, Tambe had the chance to level the scoreline, but with just the keeper to beat running into the box lofted his poor attempt away over the goal.

The rookies’ fate was sealed in the 85th minute when Muhamad Sulumba scored a powerful header to completely send Mponda’s boys back to the Southern Region Football League.

Speaking to the media after the defeat, Mponda said the result was very bad.

“We didn’t expect this but it has happened, we need to move on. We are out of the league now but we will make sure to return back in 2017. We will keep our players in order to make a quick come back,” he said.

On his part, team manager for the Nomads Chiyembekezo Zidana said his side will try to win their remaining games with the aim of finishing in the top four of the league.

“The confidence is now back into the team and we will ensure that we win the next two games so that we can make it into the top four,” said Zidana.

The result sees Wanderers moving to 5th position with 39 points from 26 games, four points behind 4th placed Silver Strikers.

As for the Wizards, they are out of the league with 21 points from 26 games and even if they can win their remaining two games, they will not be able to reach 29 points accumulated by Dedza Young Soccer.

In other result, the battle for a third position between Blue Eagles and Silver Strikers ended goalless, with Eagles maintaining their number 3 position on the log.