Blue Eagles, Silver Strikers ready for Blantyre giants

Two top Lilongwe based sides are in town for their two crucial games against Blantyre based giants in the top flight over the weekend.

In a week when Malawians will for the first time watch Super League games on Beta Television, third placed Blue Eagles will be hosted by team of the moment Mighty Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Nomads have had four successful games in the league without a defeat but their showdown with Eagles will determine whether the Lali Lubani boys are ready to challenge for the title or not.

Statistics are favouring the Area 30 cops who, for the past four seasons, have not tested defeat at the hands of the Nomads at Kamuzu Stadium.

The Cops are adamant of recording maximum points to ignite their title ambitions after finishing in the top four for the past four seasons.

Gilbert Chirwa, Osward Maonga, Enock Likoswe, Junior Malidadi, Tsanzo Dalio, Wister Phiri, Alupheous Nyoni and Victor Phiri are some of the notable faces to have travelled to Blantyre for the showdown.

However, with Wanderers in top form, Eagles should brace themselves for a tough ride. Nomads head coach Eddington Ng’onamo told this publication that the best is yet to come from his boys but warned Eagles to expect a tough ride.

“We are playing brilliant football at the moment and we have set our eyes on breaking into the top four so playing Blue Eagles at the moment is a plus for us and we are warning our friends to expect a rough ride on Saturday,” he said.

Beating Eagles will put the Nomads into top four with 23 points, two points adrift of leaders Silver Strikers who will be playing Max Bullets at Kalulu Stadium before travelling to Blantyre for their clash against Big Bullets.

For the past three seasons, the Central Bankers have been playing second fiddle to the People’s Team.

Last season, in their title defence, Bullets managed to collect maximum points, leaving the Bankers with bitter pills to swallow.

But speaking before departing for Blantyre, the Bankers through their captain Lucky Malata said they are all well prepared for the showdown against defending league champions on Sunday.

“We don’t have injuries or suspensions for the trip to South. We are ready to face Max Bullets on Saturday before playing Big Bullets on Sunday. It won’t be easy against the defending champions but looking at the way we have been playing in this season, we are very optimistic of getting something out of that game,” he said.

Beating Big Bullets will signify how serious the Central Bankers are in their pursuit of the championship but facing the newly crowned Presidential Cup champions will surely be a mountain to climb.

Chiukepo Msowoya, Muhammad Sulumba, Dalitso Sailesi, Bashir Maunde and Mike Mkwate are all available for selection for Bullets but Henry Kabichi, John Lanjesi, Dave Ng’ambi, Miracle Gabeya and Chikondi Likwemba won’t be part of the encounter.

Both matches will be beamed live on Beta Television.