Pressure is mounting on Red Lions’ Head Coach, Malumbo Mkandawire, to turn around his side’s fortunes as the Zomba-based soldiers prepare to host Silver Strikers at Zomba City Stadium this afternoon, with more than just three points at stake.
After a disappointing start to the second round of the FDH Bank Premiership, the soldiers are desperate for their first victory, having collected just two points from a possible nine and scored only once in their opening three matches.
Another setback would further complicate their battle to secure top-flight survival, while victory would offer a much-needed lift to a side whose confidence appears to be fading.
Mkandawire has not hidden his frustration with the team’s performances, describing their progress as “not good enough”.
Red Lions finished the first round ninth with 20 points from 15 matches. Three games into the second round, they remain in the same position, now on 22 points, but their inability to build momentum is becoming increasingly concerning.
Their struggles are reflected in a worrying dip in form. Of their 18 league matches, the soldiers have won five, drawn seven and lost six. Four of those victories came in their opening nine games following their return to the elite league, when they appeared capable of competing comfortably against established Premiership sides.
The subsequent nine matches, however, have painted a different picture, producing just one victory, four draws and four defeats.
Their second-round campaign began with a 1-1 draw against LUANAR Mitundu Football Club before a goalless stalemate against Ekhaya FC at home. Their latest outing brought further disappointment, with a 1-0 defeat to fellow relegation battlers CRECK Sporting Club in Lilongwe.
The biggest concern for Mkandawire is his side’s inability to convert opportunities into goals. Red Lions have scored just 13 goals in 18 matches, making them one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league, alongside Chitipa United.
Defensively, the soldiers have further reasons for concern. They have conceded 15 goals in 18 matches, two more than they have scored, highlighting the balance they must find between tightening their defence and improving their attacking output.
For a team fighting to distance itself from the relegation conversation, that lack of attacking efficiency is becoming an expensive weakness.
Mkandawire believes the problem is not necessarily a shortage of chances but rather the failure to take them.
“Our biggest problem has been failing to score goals, but I am hoping we will rectify all those issues. When we played against CRECK, we had so many chances, and I believe that during these training days we have worked on it. We have been working on finishing, and we want to win our next game,” he said.
The coach has also urged his players not to allow recent disappointments affect their confidence, insisting that collecting maximum points has become increasingly important.
“We need to be encouraging our players not to throw their faces down; we should be looking forward, trying to get the win. We do not need to lose more points. We need points to move away from where we are, so it is very important to get three points,” he added.
Interestingly, Zomba City Stadium remains some sort of a sanctuary for the soldiers. They are yet to lose at their backyard this season, recording five victories and four draws in nine home matches.
Their away record, however, tells a completely different story. Red Lions are yet to register a victory on the road, having lost six and drawn three of their nine away fixtures.
Mkandawire acknowledges that their inability to collect points away from home has undermined their campaign, although protecting their impressive home record will be equally important against Silver.
“It is not looking good. We are failing to win away, and we need to try to win. We have been controlling games, but we failed to utilise chances,” he said.
However, maintaining that unbeaten home record will require more than determination, particularly against a Silver Strikers side with ambitions of its own.
The Central Bankers arrive in Zomba sitting fourth with 33 points from 18 matches, having won nine, drawn six and lost three. They are 11 points ahead of Red Lions and will be equally eager to return to winning ways after being held to a frustrating goalless draw by Kamuzu Barracks.
The encounter also presents an opportunity for interim coach Patricio Kulemeka to strengthen his position and keep Silver’s ambitions on course. With the Area 47 side still chasing a strong finish, dropping points against a struggling opponent is unlikely to be part of their plans.
Historical meetings also favour the visitors. In their last 11 encounters, Silver have won seven times, Red Lions have claimed three victories, while the other match ended in a draw. The Central Bankers have scored 17 goals against the soldiers’ seven and kept three clean sheets, while Red Lions have failed to keep Silver from scoring in any of those meetings.
For Mkandawire, however, the immediate priority is straightforward: end the winless run, collect three points and give Red Lions some breathing space in their fight for survival.
But against a Silver Strikers side determined to make progress under Kulemeka, the soldiers’ unbeaten record at Zomba City Stadium faces one of its sternest examinations yet.
For Red Lions, this is no longer simply about protecting a home record. It is about ensuring that their return to the Premiership does not become a short-lived stay.
