Olson Kanjira snatched a crucial second-half equalizer for Kamuzu Barracks (KB) as they played out a 1-1 draw against Civil Service United at the Champions Stadium in Dowa on Wednesday afternoon. The match proved to be a game of two halves, with Civil dominating the first period and KB asserting themselves after the break.
Civil Service United started strongly, trying to penetrate the soldiers’ solid defense in the opening 10 minutes. Their persistence paid off in the 24th minute when Sam Chivunde was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
Dustan Banda stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty, giving the visitors a deserved lead. Civil continued to press, with Francis Mchema heading over after being found by Sam Gunda, who himself later sent a powerful free kick wide. Just four minutes before halftime, Muhammad Biason missed a golden opportunity to double the scores when he was found unmarked by Khumbo Mhone.
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KB made changes at the start of the second half, introducing Smey Chimunkho, Samson Chiponda, and Lumbani Mkandawire for Hope Namadzunda, Gilbert Nkhokwe, and John Banda. Despite these substitutions, Civil continued to dominate the opening 15 minutes of the half. Civil also made a change on the hour mark, with Blessings Malinda replacing Biason.
The tide began to turn in the 71st minute when an inviting ball from substitute Samson Chiponda found Olson Kanjira, who powered home the equalizer for Kamuzu Barracks. The goal ignited KB, who took control of the game. Kanjira had another chance in the 80th minute, but his volley went straight to Civil’s goalkeeper, Blessings Juma.
Civil made late substitutions, with Precious Chipungu and Gracious Kapachika coming in for Khumbo Banda and Charles Mafaiti, but neither side could find a winner, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Assistant coach for Kamuzu Barracks, Ted Kalinda, admitted his team started poorly but highlighted their improved second-half performance. “It was a 50-50 game though we started badly, our friends dominated in the first half, that’s why they scored a goal from a penalty because we were under pressure. But after a pep talk, we came strong and got that equalizer,” said Kalinda.
Meanwhile, Civil Service United head coach, Abbas Makawa, expressed mixed feelings about the result. “It was a tough game, our friends played an unfriendly game which made it hard for us to play our normal football. Of course, we failed to defend the time we were leading, so a draw is a fair result despite that we wanted a win,” Makawa commented.
The point gained takes Kamuzu Barracks to 12 points from 11 matches, placing them in 11th position with three wins, three draws, and five defeats. Civil Service United remain in 12th place with 10 points from two wins, four draws, and four defeats in the league.
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