TNM Super League rookies, Ekhaya FC, have become punching bags in their last five matches, losing all of them, conceding 10 goals and managing just three in return.
Their latest game was a 4-2 defeat to Creck Sporting Club at Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji District, which made it the 14th defeat of the season from 29 games.
This is in contrast to their fiery start to the season, when they won three and lost two of their opening five matches, conceding just four goals while scoring five.
Coach for Ekhaya, Enos Chatama, also in his debut season for the club, said his team has made avoidable mistakes.
“Had it been that the boys were well aware of what it is like to play in the Super League, had it been that when we go to revise, the players are taking on what we told them, we could not have been in this situation,” Chatama said.
However, he said that the team needs a lot of ‘polishing up’ if it is to improve next season.
“We should not blame anyone; we are responsible. We have to take this team forward. One day, it should be a song that we lost five games in a row,” Chatama said.
In the game, Ekhaya started lowly since their player, Samuel Rukura, picked up an injury just three minutes into the game and he was replaced by Blessings Malinda.
Malinda quickly made his appearance known because he was the first to score in the 24th minute.
Nonetheless, this joy was shattered 14 minutes later by Patrick Mupanzi for Creck, who leveled the scoreline.
Creck then started playing intensely in the remaining minutes of the first-half and continued the same tempo in the early minutes of the second-half.
By the 68th minute, Creck’s George Chaomba delivered a cross to Harvey Nasiyasiya whose header threatened the Ekhaya goal, but their stopper, Joshua Waka, managed to save it.
But Waka did not manage to secure the goal long enough, because Mupanzi scored again in the 72nd minute, from long-range.
Two minutes later, a defensive error, made Keston Simbi concede and own goal and Mupanzi managed a hat-trick in the 77th minute, which also earned him the man-of-the-match accolade.
Ekhaya had the consolation goal in the dying minutes through Levison Munyenyembe.
Creck’s Coach, Elijah Kanaji, hailed his charges for maintaining an aggressive approach in the game.
Kananji said he will keep encouraging his team to work hard to end the season on a high note and warned his players not to get carried away.
“If we are excited, we can be shocked. I also thank my supporters for being behind us, whatever the result,” he said.
On the standings, Ekhaya is still 7th with 39 points, while Creck is 11th with 36 points.
League action returns on Saturday as league leaders, Mighty Wanderers, will be up against Moyale Barracks, defending champions, Silver Strikers, will face MAFCO at Champion Stadium in Dowa and already relegated side, Songwe Border United will lock horns against Blue Eagles.
