By Rahim Abdul

Ekhaya FC produced an outstanding display to defeat Kamuzu Barracks 3-0 in TNM Super League encounter on Wednesday afternoon at Mpira stadium in Blantyre.

The game began on a balanced note with both sides exchanging early chances. Ekhaya earned two quick corners through Levison Munyenyembe but Kamuzu Barracks defended well.

The first clear opportunity of the match fell to KB’s Samson Chiponda, who went one-on-one with goalkeeper Joshua Waka but failed to hit the target. Moments later, KB nearly took the lead when Lloyd Mugala’s powerful header from a free kick struck the post, letting Ekhaya off the hook.

As the first half progressed, Ekhaya began to take control. In the 36th minute, a foul by Mike Ntonyo on the lively Munyenyembe inside the penalty area saw referee Cedrick Mwachumu point to the spot. Emmanuel Saviel confidently stepped up and converted, giving Ekhaya a 1-0 lead.

The hosts maintained their advantage into the break despite a few scares from the visiting soldiers.

In the second half, Ekhaya returned even stronger. Substitute James Lumbe’s introduction in the second half proved to be a turning point. His creativity and speed opened up KB’s defense repeatedly. In the 53rd minute, Saviel doubled his tally with a calm finish after brilliant teamwork involving Munyenyembe, Lumbe, and Stanley Billiat.

Just a minute later, Ekhaya struck again. This time, Lumbe turned scorer, tapping in from close range after an excellent exchange of passes with Billiat and Saviel. The quick double put the game beyond KB’s reach as the hosts led 3-0.

Despite making several substitutions, Kamuzu Barracks struggled to find rhythm. Their forwards were repeatedly denied by Ekhaya’s solid defense and goalkeeper Joshua Waka, who also received a yellow card for time wasting. KB’s best chance came in the 86th minute when Zeliat Nkhoma’s free kick narrowly missed the target.

Ekhaya managed the game well in the closing minutes, frustrating the visitors and ensuring their clean sheet. When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 3-0 in favor of Ekhaya FC, with Saviel’s brace and Lumbe’s goal sealing a memorable win.

Man of the Match honors deservedly went to Emmanuel Saviel, whose composure and finishing made the difference.

Speaking after the match, Ekhaya head coach Enos Chatama praised his players for their spirited performance, saying he was proud of the team’s progress and confident of another good result in their next fixture against Blue Eagles this coming Saturday.

On the other hand, Kamuzu Barracks coach Nicolas Mhango admitted defeat, acknowledging that his team was second-best on the day. He noted that his players failed to execute the game plan but promised to fix the mistakes before their next match.