It had to be a goal from right back McDonald Lameck to seal the title for the Central Bankers on Saturday after beating Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The win has stretched the lead to 64 points, 10 ahead of second placed Wanderers.
Silver Strikers went into the match looking to just avoid a loss in order to seal its fate as champions with two matches to play.
Silver Strikers started slow on Saturday as the hosts looked to be in search of an early goal but the Area 47 side managed to absorb the pressure accordingly.
At 13 minutes, Uchizi Vunga made a good run from the left that saw him play a one-two with Chimwemwe Idana who later passed to Chikondi Kamanga whose shot went way over the bar.
At 32 minutes the hosts registered their first shot on target but George Chikooka was up to the task. Four minutes later, the Central Bankers launched an attack that saw Chinsinsi Maonga failing to finish off the game at close range when Maxwell Paipi started a move in midfield with Uchizi Vunga who spotted Sandukila’s run. Sandukila placed a beautiful cross inside only for Maonga to miss the target.
The two sides went to recess without a goal.
Come second half, Lameck scored from close range when he received a long ball from Chikooka. Lameck controlled the ball and made way into the 18 yard box then fired home the only goal of the match.
In the last minutes of the match, Head Coach Peter Mponda made changes to the team and he rested Chikondi Kamanga, Misheck Seleman and Charles Chipala for Lassuli Jali and Zebron Kalima.
After the match the gaffer praised his charges for a well played season and said they showed resilience at times that he expected them to give up.
“It’s a game well played on our part. Today the boys played so well and they got important points and that is what has gotten us here. I would like also to thank the board of Silver Strikers for their support, we couldn’t have made it without them,” said Mponda.
Silver Strikers will next play FOMO FC on Wednesday in Mulanje before hosting Dedza Dynamos at home in Lilongwe.
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