Ascent secure second spot in NBM Premiership as Civil Women stun Bullets Women

Ascent Academy have secured a second-place finish in the National Bank of Malawi National Women’s Premiership after beating Kukoma Ntopwa Queens 3-1 in an entertaining match played at the Mpira Stadium on Thursday morning.

The team needed a win to secure the runners-up spot, and Mayamiko Mkandawire’s second-half hat-trick was enough to secure the win, with Sarah Mlimbika grabbing a consolation goal.

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After a barren first 45 minutes that saw the hosts dominating the game, the introduction of Alepha Chimbeta at halftime changed everything as she provided three assists for Ascent to secure the win.

Head coach for Ascent Academy, Thom Nkolongo, hailed the second-half performance of the team that secured a win.

“I am very satisfied with the performance of the girls this season because we had so many injuries. For instance, Mayamiko Mkandawire didn’t play for six games but has five goals in two games after returning from injury, but a second-place finish is a surplus,” said Nkolongo.

Meanwhile, Kukoma Ntopwa Queens head coach Isaac Jomo Osman conceded the defeat and hailed Ascent for a brilliant display of football.

“We have had a tough season due to injuries, and I was also committed to other duties, but next season we will bring in new players, so trust me, we will win the championship next season,” said Osman.

The team now has 38 points from 12 wins, two draws, and three defeats with one game left to finish the season, while Kukoma Ntopwa Queens have dropped to sixth with 27 points from eight wins, three draws, and six defeats in the league.

Topik chalk up second league win

Topik Academy have secured their second win of their debut season in the NBM Women’s Premiership after beating Moyale Sisters 1-0 to beat all Northern region teams in the second round of the league at the Luwinga Technical Centre ground in an early kick-off match.

Having failed to secure a win in the first half of the season, Topik netted an 86th-minute winner through Florah Shonga to become the team with the most wins in the relegation zone in the league with two back-to-back wins, as they also beat MK Academy in their previous outing.

Head coach for the team, Levie Mhone, said the game went as planned and he was happy to get the win in the match.

“We have learned a lot from this league and we are happy to have won two games. It shows that the experience is coming plus coordination, which I believe we will use when we go to the regional league,” said Mhone.

On the other hand, coach for Moyale Sisters John Chimwala had run out of words after also putting in a grand performance but still losing the match.

“I don’t know what to say because it has been the same issue in most games that we play. We play well but still we lose, so I just don’t know,” he said.

The win took Topik Academy up to eighth in the league with nine points from two wins, three draws, and 12 defeats in the league, while Moyale Sisters remain bottom of the table with five points from one win, two draws, and 14 defeats this season.

Mathyola leads Silver demolition of MK Academy

Silver Strikers Ladies secured their biggest victory of the season with one game left to finish the season after thrashing MK Academy 10-0 in the match played at the Luwinga Technical Centre Ground in a late kick-off match.

Caroline Mathyola utilized her chance to have a place in the starting team with a hat-trick, while Deborah Henry, Yamikani Mhango, Ireen Khumalo, Angella Mwalilino, Madyina Ngulube, and Tionge Phiri got a goal each, plus an own goal from Terezah Kanyika secured their big win.

Head coach for the Bankers, Andrew Chikhosi, hailed the team for managing to score more goals despite facing an already relegated team.

“I’m looking at the positives from the team that we are able to attack more and create chances, which has helped us to win with this huge margin,” said Chikhosi.

On the other side, Khumbo Sibale of MK Academy said his team has no pressure when playing their matches.

“We can’t pressurize players to do better because we are already relegated. Our job is to nurture players, and in the first round we sold some players before introducing Under-16 players to the team who are struggling with experience,” he said.

The Bankers will be crowned as the champions of the league next season as they have 45 points from 15 wins and two defeats, while MK Academy are in position nine with seven points from one win, four draws, and 12 defeats in the league.

Lioness keep third-place hopes alive

MDF Lioness have kept their hopes of finishing third in the NBM Women’s Premiership alive after beating Mighty Wanderers Queens 1-0 at the Champions Stadium.

Mervis Misomali netted a winner in the 74th minute to secure a win and hand the Nomads back-to-back defeats to remain stuck in the seventh position of the league.

Head coach for the team, Yohane Fulaye, said their team needed a win in the game and thanked his players for the job well done.

“We are in position four and we needed nothing but a win because we want to fight for the third position, and this win is a huge boost to us,” said Fulaye.

On his side, Mighty Wanderers Queens goalkeepers trainer Davie Pashani blamed the officiation for favoring their opponents in order to win.

“It was a balanced game in the first half, but come second half, the referees helped our friends to win, which is very bad in an elite league like this. We have a youthful side; we will maintain it so that they grow together and build a good team in the near future,” he said.

MDF Lioness rose up to fourth in the league with 28 points from eight wins, four draws, and five defeats, while Nomads remain seventh with 23 points from seven wins, two draws, and eight defeats in the league.

Civil Women beat Bullets Women to leave third spot open

Civil Women have kept their hopes of finishing in the top four of the league alive after shocking FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women with a 1-0 victory at the Mpira Stadium in a late kick-off match.

Mercy Vitumbiko Mkandawire scored her eighth goal of the season to secure their second win in Blantyre and deny the People’s team a chance to cement a third-place finish in the league.

Head coach for the team, Collins Pofera, hailed the team for their spirited performance that earned them a win in the match.

“We planned to win the league when we were starting, but we faced problems and we were seventh in the first round, but now we are going up on the table, and if we finish in the top four I will be happy,” said Pofera.

On the other side, Bullets Women head coach Maggie Chombo-Sadick accepted the defeat, saying it was not their day.

“We tried to create chances in the game and we made changes, but still we failed to get a goal. We just have to accept that it was not our day,” she said.

The Civil servants have now moved fifth on the table with 28 points from eight wins, four draws, and five defeats, while FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women remain third with nine wins, four draws, and four defeats in the league.

On the John Chilembwe commemoration day, 17 goals were scored on the match day, with Silver Ladies netting 10 goals as the highest-scoring team on the match day.

Deborah Henry still leads the golden boot race with 23 goals, while Mayamiko Mkandawire has 13 goals in second and Kondawo Banda has nine goals alongside Tawina Kawaga.