…Stern pressure from Stain Dave…
With a little over five games to wind up the 2018/19 TNM Super League season, forwards are on the roll chasing one another for the top goal scorer’s miniature.
Top on the list is Moyale Barracks lethal forward Gastin Simkonda and Nyasa Big Bullets ace Chiukepo Msowoya who tie on 14 goals.
Bullets have four matches to complete their season. Msowoya has the opportunity to claim the accolade if he outscores Simkonda during his club’s games against Civil Sporting Club, Silver Strikers, Azam Tigers and Red Lions.
Simkonda’s turn comes in just three matches that the Mzuzu Soldiers are left with. They have Mafco, Be Forward Wanderers and Nchalo to wrap up their season.
The two are running the race with stern competition from TN Stars’ forward Stain Dave who is just two goals shy.
His side has Silver, Be Forward Wanderers, Masters Security and Blue Eagles to face.
But Blantyre Synod Radio Sports journalist, Christ Gomani, has described the stats as showing in the open how blunt the country’s forwards are.
He believes with over 20 matches, it is rather sad that top scorers are struggling in the teens.
“Scoring remains a big problem in our football because after playing over 20 games, it shows the (players) are not scoring averagely in each match. Competition is always among same old faces for the past 4 years which I think minus the old guns our football will have a record of fewer goals among the would be top goal scorers. It’s high time every team in the elite league hired striker trainers. Football is investment,” Gomani said in an interview on Tuesday.
Asked what he views of rookies TN Stars forward Dave running the chase, he said: “From a struggling team without sound sponsorship, a situation which demotivate players, I think Stain Davie has proved to be one of those hungry strikers which Malawi need to invest on. He has shown that given a chance to play in teams like Nyasa Big Bullets, Silver Strikers or an MDF side where motivations are there, he can do better than this.”
His observation comes in light of the national team’s blunt feat recently.
The Flames lost in the Afcon qualifiers 0-3 to Cameron before being forced to a goalless draw at Kamuzu Stadium in the return leg last month.
Scoring has been hard in the matches the Flames have been led by Belgian Ronny Van Geneugden.
They face off against Comoros this Friday in a group in which they are third, below Cameron and Morocco.
Arguments have been that the scoring feat is worse in the leagues and it is hence carried to the national side.
For Gomani, teams should exploit other means.
“The major issue is about investment. Teams should recruit striker trainers who should be doing special trainings with such players. They should borrow a leaf on how such people are trained in other leagues, PSL in South Africa for example.”
In the Super League golden boot race, Mike Tetteh ties with Civil Sporting Club’s Raphael Phiri. Tetteh who plays for Silver Strikers comes third with 11 goals, seven of which he scored while with Mzuni before the switch to the Central Bankers.
Azam Tigers’ towering forward Peter Katsonga and China Chirwa of TN Stars rounds off the scorers with ten goals and above.
