It’s promising for Wanderers: Kamwendo picks up late but in crucial moment

The controversial signing is finally paying dividends at the crucial moment, he is crucial for Wanderers’ title push

The saga surrounding Promise Kamwendo’s move to Mighty Wanderers ranks among the most contentious transfer battles in recent Malawian football history—perhaps rivaled only by Jaffali Chande’s acrimonious switch from FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to Wanderers in 2016, though under different circumstances.

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Back then, Bullets insisted Chande remained under contract while the player maintained he’d fulfilled his obligations. The Nomads ultimately prevailed in that tug-of-war, and Chande repaid their faith by helping deliver the TNM Super League title in 2017, ending a decade-long drought.

Kamwendo’s case followed a different trajectory but shared similar complications. Bullets had already struck a deal with Dedza Dynamos to secure the prolific striker, who’d netted 29 goals across three seasons in the Central Region. The People’s Team had paid the transfer fee, prepared the signing bonus, and even wired transportation costs to bring Kamwendo to Blantyre. The deal seemed wrapped up with a bow.

Then Wanderers came calling with their own promises for Promise.

What followed was months of legal wrangling. Kamwendo signed a three-year contract with the Nomads, but Bullets protested vigorously. FAM eventually ruled in their favor, ordering the player back to Dedza to complete the 2024 campaign. Only at the start of this season did Kamwendo finally don the famous blue and white stripes—arriving on a free transfer with expectations sky-high and controversy trailing in his wake.

The question lingered: would the promise live up to the promises?

A Rocky Start and Patient Investment

Kamwendo entered a crowded forward line. Cameroonian import Sama Tanjong, the reliable Clement Nyondo, versatile Blessings Mwalirino, and later, the re-signed veteran Muhammad Sulumba—Wanderers had assembled five recognized strikers. Competition for places was fierce, and early returns suggested the gamble might not pay off.

Through the opening 20 matches, Kamwendo managed just four goals: strikes against Blue Eagles in the season opener, then tallies against Mafco, Dedza and Moyale Barracks. Respectable contributions, perhaps, but hardly the output expected from someone who’d sparked such a bitter transfer dispute.

The trolls emerged predictably, particularly from aggrieved Bullets supporters who relished every missed chance and quiet performance. “Promise who?” became a familiar refrain on social media.

The adaptation period proved longer than anticipated. New teammates, different tactical systems, the weight of expectations—all contributed to a stuttering start. But Bob Mpinganjira kept faith, and gradually, the pieces began falling into place.

The breakthrough arrived in the most satisfying fashion imaginable. Facing the FDH Bank Cup semifinal, with another opportunity to silence his critics, Kamwendo delivered when it mattered most—netting the winner and sending his team to the final. More importantly, he’d answered the doubters with the ultimate response: crucial goals in crucial moments.

That strike ignited something. Over Wanderers’ last three league fixtures, Kamwendo has found the net three times, propelling himself to joint-top scorer for the club with seven league goals—matching Blessings Mwalirino and surpassing Wisdom Mpinganjira, who along with Mwalirino had carried the scoring burden through the first half of the campaign with five goals apiece.

The timing couldn’t be better. Both Mpinganjira and Mwalirino have gone cold, hampered by injury and reduced playing time respectively. As they’ve dried up in front of goal, Kamwendo has emerged—transformed from expensive question mark to potential title hero.

“This is the Promise Kamwendo we ordered,” has become the rallying cry among Nomads faithful, trending across Malawian football forums.

Now, with fitness permitting, Kamwendo is virtually undroppable for the run-in. Three matches remain, and the striker who arrived under such contentious circumstances has positioned himself as central to Wanderers’ championship ambitions.

The path to silverware has crystallized. Mighty Wanderers sit atop the TNM Super League table with 62 points from 27 matches—a significant three-point cushion over record champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, who suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat to Moyale Barracks in Mzuzu on Wednesday.

The Nomads’ 2-0 victory over Karonga United the following day—sweet revenge against the side that eliminated them from the Airtel Top 8 Cup earlier this season—opened that crucial breathing space.

Mighty Wanderers recent points collection by season

Three fixtures stand between Wanderers and their first league title since that glorious 2017 campaign: Kamuzu Barracks, Civil Service United, and Moyale Barracks. Maximum points would deliver 71 points—a club record that would eclipse even the 69-point haul from their last championship season.

Reaching 60 points itself represents a milestone. The Nomads haven’t achieved that mark since 2019, when they finished runners-up with 69 points. Now they’ve surpassed it with room to spare, demonstrating the consistency that has defined their campaign.

Fortress Kamuzu: Built on Defensive Foundations

The statistics tell the story of a team that has learned to win ugly when necessary. From 27 matches, Wanderers have conceded a miserly 12 goals—on track for their best defensive record in a decade. The last time they shipped fewer than 16 goals (conceded in both 2017 and 2023) was never; this year’s defensive solidity stands alone.

Bob Mpinganjira has crafted a pragmatic system—either 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 depending on perspective—that may not always produce champagne football but delivers results. High pressing, athletic wingbacks winning possession in advanced areas, and devastating efficiency from set-pieces have become Wanderers’ hallmarks. An estimated 60% of their goals this season have originated from corners and free-kicks—weaponizing dead-ball situations like no other team in the division.

At home, they’ve been imperious: nine wins from 12 matches at Kamuzu Stadium. Away from home, they’ve matched that tally—nine victories from 15 trips. Eighteen clean sheets across the campaign underscore their defensive resolve.

“I must thank the players for their tremendous effort today—they gave everything to secure this victory,” Mpinganjira said after dispatching Karonga. “I’m delighted with the performance. But we’re focused solely on Mighty Wanderers, not our opponents. We concentrate on what we can control.

“After that defeat to Hammers, we encouraged the boys to work hard and learn from our mistakes. We reminded them of those lessons before this match, and they responded brilliantly.”

That loss to Mzuzu City Hammers—a shocking 2-1 setback that briefly threw the title race into doubt—now feels like ancient history. Wanderers have responded with six wins, two draws, and just that single defeat across their last nine matches. The stumble hasn’t derailed them; if anything, it sharpened their focus.

Football journalist Twaha Chimuka maintained faith even after the Hammers debacle. “Mighty Wanderers still have huge chances of winning the league despite that loss,” he noted. “They’re playing their remaining fixtures at home, unlike their contenders. They just need to move past the defeat, though these things always sting more than three points suggest.”

Fellow journalist Joseph Chalera concurred. “Wanderers need to shed any unnecessary complacency and embrace the pressure of these final games. They’re favorites now—it’s theirs to lose.”

The mathematics support the optimism. Should Wanderers secure three victories from three remaining home fixtures, they’ll claim their seventh league title and first in eight years. The promised land beckons for Promise and his teammates.

And if they cross the finish line first, the narrative will be complete: controversial signing, patient adaptation, timely resurgence, and ultimate vindication. Promise Kamwendo will have kept his promise after all—delivering silverware when Mighty Wanderers needed him most.

The final chapters await. Three matches. Three opportunities. One destiny within reach.

Mighty Wanderers’ Remaining Fixtures:

• Kamuzu Barracks (Home)
• Civil Service United (Home)
• Moyale Barracks (Home)

Current TNM Super League Standings (after 27 matches):

1. Mighty Wanderers – 62 points
2. FCB Nyasa Big Bullets – 59 points