TNM Super League rookies Ekhaya FC have climbed within two points of the log leaders after a clever goal from Clever Chikwata secured a 1-0 victory over Creck Sporting Club at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon. This marks Ekhaya’s fifth win in their impressive debut season.
Chikwata’s lone goal came in the 21st minute, a testament to the Cowboys’ brilliant start to the match. Ekhaya remained defensively solid throughout, handing Eliya Kananji a loss in his first match as Creck’s coach.
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The hosts began on a high note, dominating possession with Stanley Billiat spearheading many attacks. Hadji James made a brilliant run down the right wing, setting up Chikwata for the opening goal. Ekhaya nearly doubled their lead ten minutes before halftime when Hermus Masinja tried to find Chikwata in the box, but the striker couldn’t connect with the ball.
In the second half, Creck began to pile on the pressure. Substitutions for Ekhaya saw Lovemore Mbeta replace Chimwemwe Yassin at halftime, while Mwayi Banda made way for Wongani Kaponya later in the half. Despite efforts from Harvey Nasiyaya and Hussein Hassan who came close to scoring, Creck failed to find the equalizer.
Creck made their own changes with Kondwani Chilembwe and George Chaomba replacing Nasiyaya and Babangida Ishaya in the 62nd minute, and later, Misheck Botomani and Ademola Ajibols came on for Aaron Chilipa and Hussein Hassan. Ekhaya also brought on James Lumbe and Innocent Msowoya for Hadji James and Stanley Billiat, ultimately holding on for the crucial win.
Despite the victory, Ekhaya FC head coach Enos Chatama expressed his dissatisfaction with his team’s overall performance.
“It was a good game that we started very well. We created several chances where we scored one goal, but then we missed many,” Chatama stated. “In the second half, we kept on misfiring, then Creck came in and gave us a tough time in the last 20 minutes. This kind of play is not acceptable for a team like Ekhaya.”
Losing on his debut, Creck coach Eliya Kananji acknowledged his team’s poor first-half showing. “We did not play well in the first half, but in the second half we dominated, only that we failed to get a goal,” Kananji explained. “We will have to go back and sort out our problems so that in the next matches we do better.”
Ekhaya remains in third place but is now level on 16 points with second-placed Might Wanderers, having recorded five wins, one draw, and two defeats. Creck Sporting Club sits in ninth position with 11 points from three wins, two draws, and four defeats.
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