Silver back in title contention after three straight wins

Silver Strikers tightened their grip on this season’s TNM Super League title race with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Kamuzu Barracks on Thursday, December 4 at Silver Stadium. It was a match that refused to open up, a match that demanded resilience and patience, but the Bankers dug deep and found their breakthrough when all seemed destined for a stalemate.

Their academy product, the lively Lasuli Jali, stepped off the bench and wrote his name across the afternoon with a calm finish deep into stoppage time. Kamuzu Barracks, who had fought with admirable discipline for a point and a clean sheet, were left stunned. They did not anticipate what Jali carried in his boots.

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A long clearance from McDonald Lameck triggered the move, finding Uchizi Vunga in midfield. Vunga, fearless as always, muscled past two KB players before slipping the ball to Festus Duwe. Duwe needed no invitation to release Jali with a clever pass. His first attempt was blocked by goalkeeper Hastings Banda, but the rebound fell kindly on his left foot and he tucked it home in the 94th minute. The stadium erupted.

At the final whistle, Silver’s supporters celebrated with the energy of a team that refuses to bow out of the title conversation. Kamuzu Barracks players remained grounded on the turf, trying to make sense of a result that they believed should have ended in a draw. They have now gone more than two seasons without a league win over Silver Strikers, and with their battle for a top-eight finish still alive, every point at this stage of the season weighs heavily.

The late winner sends a powerful message to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers who sit first and second on the log tied at 56 points, with Bullets enjoying a superior goal difference. Silver, who have played 24 matches, trail the pair by six points, a gap that could be cut to three if they win their game in hand. For the Bankers, the title is not just mathematically possible, it is emotionally within reach.

Local football analyst Twaha Silva Chimuka believes the league is far from decided.

“Silver have nothing to lose. They are the defending champions and may wish to return the trophy to their cabinet. Being seen as underdogs gives them an advantage because they are not playing under pressure. They can take it as outsiders. They are fighting to the last minute in every match,” he said.

Indeed, Silver’s recent results show a team playing with fire and grit. They collected maximum points against Moyale Barracks, Civil Service United and now Kamuzu Barracks. Emmanuel Allan bagged a hat-trick against his former club Moyale, and Innocent Shema struck in the 86th minute to win the Lilongwe derby against Civil.

This fighting spirit reflects what head coach Peter Mgangira said after lifting the FDH Bank Cup earlier this month. When asked whether the team was satisfied after winning the cup, he made his intentions known.

“You cannot be satisfied in football. We will not fold because of today’s win. We still have league games and we will approach every match with seriousness. Last season we won the league but missed out on the cups. This season we will fight for more than one trophy,” he said.

Silver’s schedule offers opportunity and danger in equal measure. They host relegated Songwe Border United on Sunday, December 7 before facing Mzuzu City Hammers and Blue Eagles. They will also travel to Ekhaya FC, MAFCO FC and Karonga United.

Bullets, meanwhile, are in the North for a tricky meeting with Karonga United on Saturday, December 6 in a fixture that always defies prediction. The first-round encounter ended 3-3 at Kamuzu Stadium. Karonga are eyeing a top-four finish, making the contest both heavy and thrilling. Bullets will also meet Moyale Barracks, relegation-threatened Mighty Tigers, and welcome Ekhaya and Mzuzu City Hammers.

Wanderers, second on the log, have what appears on paper to be a favourable run-in, with all remaining matches at home. They start with Ekhaya on Thursday, December 7, followed by Moyale Barracks, Karonga United, Civil Service United and Kamuzu Barracks.

However, Wanderers must tread carefully. They have been on top of the log for some time, and the defeat to Hammers can take an emotional toll on players who believed they were having a wonder season. They need to shake off the setback quickly and refocus.

Bullets have scored 52 goals and conceded 18 for a goal difference of plus 34. Wanderers have scored 39 and conceded 12 for a plus 27. Silver sit at 37 scored and 16 conceded, giving them plus 21. The mathematics favours Bullets if teams end level on points.

But Chimuka believes Silver still have room to manoeuvre if they keep their discipline and sharpen their scoring.

“Bullets and Wanderers have become porous in recent matches. Bullets conceded three against Civil and two against CRECK Sporting. Wanderers conceded two against Hammers, which handed them their first defeat of the season. If Silver score many goals against Songwe, things can look different,” he explained.

For now, Mgangira is focused on the immediate hurdle and avoids title talk.

“We need maximum points from the Songwe game. It is a must because we are at home. But we have no pressure with the championship chase. We are concentrating on what we can do and what we can get at the end of the season,” he said.

Silver will be without Andrew Joseph who is ill and Chinsisi Maonga who is serving a suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.

With the league entering its decisive stretch, the stakes are immense. For Silver, defending the title would be a badge of honour and a statement of consistency. For Wanderers, it would end an eight-year drought stretching back to 2017. For Bullets, it would restore their dominance and begin a new chapter under coach Peter Mponda, who no doubt wants to show that last season’s Silver title was won on his foundation.

Which team will be crowned champion remains a question for the weeks ahead. What is certain is that the chase is alive, tense and fiercely contested. The title will be claimed not by reputation, but by performance in the remaining fixtures. For now, the race continues, and it will go right down to the wire.