Eight-Year Wander Lands Nomads TNM Super League Throne

After an eight-year wait and six demanding seasons, Mighty Wanderers are TNM Super League champions once again, finally reclaiming a title that slipped from their grasp in 2017 and restoring a sense of order to a club long accustomed to silverware.

The moment of confirmation came with a game still to be played. A ruthless 6–0 dismantling of Moyale Barracks removed all doubt, while elsewhere FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were held to a barren stalemate by Mighty Tigers, a result that quietly ended their pursuit of the crown.

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In match week 28, Silver Strikers’ reign had already begun to fade. Their 1–1 draw against Karonga United closed the door on any hopes of defending the title they won last season, leaving the path clear for Wanderers to walk it to the end.

Today, as gold medals were placed around their necks by the minister of youth and sports Patricia Wiskies, and the trophy lifted into the Lilongwe sky by captain Lawrence Chaziya, Wanderers completed their journey in style with a comeback to force a 2 all draw against Kamuzu Barracks at the magnificent Bingu National Stadium.

They finish the campaign with 69 points, a reflection of a season built on consistency and control, winning 20 games, losing once and drawing nine times.

If titles are often won from the back, then Wanderers’ defensive record tells much of the story. Conceding just 14 goals all season, they stood apart as the league’s most resolute side, with first-choice goalkeeper Dalitso Khungwa keeping an impressive 17 clean sheets.

Going forward, Wanderers were equally purposeful. Their goal return ranked second best in the league by scoring 51 goals, producing a healthy goal difference of plus 37 and underlining a balance that few teams could match.

What stands out is that this triumph was not sudden or accidental. It was the product of a gradual build-up, shaped by frustration, resolve and a collective determination to correct the past, all pointing towards a club that had learned from its setbacks.

The road was far from smooth. In 2024, Wanderers appointed Nswazirimo Ramadan, but his tenure lasted only two months. His assistant, Meke Mwase, assumed responsibility, only to later go absent without official leave. In the midst of uncertainty, club legend Bob Mpinganjira stepped in. Under his guidance, Wanderers finished second in the league and added silverware by winning the Castel Challenge Cup, edging Mzuzu City Hammers 1–0 in the final.

This season’s title mirrors Silver Strikers’ achievement last year in losing just one game, but Wanderers have gone further, surpassing Silver’s 68-point tally by just one.

Recruitment also played its part. The squad was reinforced with Dan Kudonto and Wallace Adam from the reserves, Cameroonian forward Thierry Tanjong Sama formerly of Baroka FC, Blessings Mwalilino from Karonga United and Promise Kamwendo from then PremierBet Dedza Dynamos, now Goshen City Dedza Dynamos, among others.

Each player contributed to the collective effort. Kamwendo’s arrival carried expectation among the Nomads faithful, an expectation largely met. His transfer was initially complicated, with a return to Dedza Dynamos and fines paid to the Football Association of Malawi before his eventual return. Injuries limited his availability, but when fit, he delivered, scoring crucial goals and finishing the campaign with eight.

In goal, Khungwa’s story reflects the season itself. Signed-on competition came with the arrival of Chancy Mtete from Mzuzu City Hammers, yet circumstance intervened. Khungwa seized his opportunity and closed the season as the league’s outstanding goalkeeper with 17 clean sheets.

Blessings Singini brought authority and inspiration to midfield, combining leadership with moments of brilliance, while defender Emmanuel Nyirenda stepped into captain Lawrence Chaziya’s role at the back and exceeded expectations, emerging as a strong contender for Defender of the Season honours.

The team also roped in McDonald Nginde Mtetemera, a highly rated tactician who joined the club as assistant coach to Mpinganjira after parting ways with CRECK Sporting Club. His arrival proved integral, with widespread belief that he played a key role in the tactical decisions that drove the team to glory.

Across the campaign, the technical panel rotated regularly, but the momentum never faltered. Only once did Wanderers truly stumble, a 2–1 defeat to Mzuzu City Hammers in Mzuzu, a rare moment of disappointment in an otherwise commanding season.

Coach Mpinganjira praised his players for holding on to the momentum they had built earlier in the league, which proved crucial to winning the title despite securing just a point on the final day.

“I am still happy; we scored twice and earned a point. I am grateful to the boys. They fought with anger and ambition. It was not an easy ride; this campaign was marked by immense competition. Once again, kudos to the players. There was a strong relationship between the squad and the technical panel. To my fellow technical staff, we did this together because of the mutual respect we share, and I am truly grateful to them,” he explained.

The club’s president, Thomson Mpinganjira, has already spoken in cash and in kind. He rewarded the team with MK45 million to share. Head coach Mpinganjira received the lion’s share of MK1.5 million, assistant coach Mtetemera got MK1.25 million, while players and other members of staff pocketed MK1 million each.

The last time Wanderers lifted the league trophy was in 2017, with Yasin ‘Titch’ Osman on the touchline and Esau ‘Black Mamba’ Kanyenda on the pitch. Kanyenda joined the team mid-season but scored eight goals, more than any other Wanderers’ player that campaign. Both men passed away this year. In that context, this title carries meaning beyond points and records, standing as a quiet tribute to two figures whose names remain woven into the fabric of the club.