By Rahim Abdul
Silver Strikers Ladies’ dominance in the National Bank Women’s Football Premiership was checked once more after they fell 2-0 to a disciplined Civil Service Women’s Team at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday.
The champions, who remain top of the table, struggled to impose themselves as Civil Service approached the fixture with clear intent and energy, determined to overturn their first-round disappointment against the bankers.
Emily Samuel gave Civil Service a crucial breakthrough just before the interval, scoring in the 44th minute to reward sustained pressure and unsettle the league leaders heading into the break.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Civil Service staying compact and purposeful, limiting Silver’s usual attacking rhythm while looking dangerous on the counter.
Vitumbiko Mkandawire put the result beyond doubt in the 71st minute, calmly finishing to spark celebrations among the Civil Service camp and confirm a deserved victory.
Civil Service Women head coach Collins Pofera said after the match that his side treated the game as a point of redemption, insisting the players were motivated by their earlier loss and determined to prove their growth.
Pofera added that his team’s intensity from the opening whistle made the difference, as they created clearer chances and showed greater hunger throughout the contest.
On the other hand, Silver Strikers Ladies coach Andrew Chikhosi admitted his side paid the price for a drop in commitment, suggesting some players appeared to believe the title race was already settled.
Chikhosi warned that such an attitude is dangerous in a competitive league, stressing the need for his team to reset mentally if they are to avoid further slips.
Despite the defeat, Silver Strikers Ladies remain top of the standings with 42 points from 16 matches, maintaining a healthy lead but now under renewed scrutiny.
Civil Service Women’s Team climb to sixth position with 25 points from the same number of games, a result that boosts their confidence and underlines their ambition.
