It was a bright afternoon in Mzuzu just after the lunch hour, a moment that every football enthusiast in general and a Silver Strikers fan in particular, waited patiently for the Silver Strikers starting lineup.
That afternoon, Silver Strikers were playing guests to Moyale Barracks in the last game of the first round of the 2024 TNM Super League and the unbeaten run was under threat from the Kaning’ina armed soldiers.
Head Coach Peter Mponda at that time had lost Tatenda M’balaka to an injury and that is when the name Dan Sandukila popped up in the starting lineup.
Playing away and trying to avoid a loss, Dan Sandukila was tasked to close off the left flank of our defense, a role he perfectly played that afternoon. The match ended goalless.
The boy that started his football journey from a local team from state house before joining The Disciples in Zomba recalls how he joined the Area 47 outfit in 2021 when he had just started training with Red Lions Football Club. It was at that time when former Silver Strikers assistant coach and then Reserve team gaffer Leo Mpulura invited him to Area 47 and was later promoted to the senior side
Sandukila, remembers that he was the only left back in the squad that afternoon and he was certain he would be in the starting lineup up.
“I was the only left back in the squad that day therefore I was certain I would make it on the starting 11. And I was delighted when it materialized”
Since his debut, Sandukila has featured for the senior team in 11 TNM Super League matches, 4 Airtel Top 8 matches and one appearance in the Castel Challenge Cup this year.
“I am happy playing for Silver Strikers and I am thankful for the opportunity that was presented to me. It is also exciting winning the league in my first season in the elite league and I look forward to many more exciting moments,” he added.
The left back is a product of Silver Strikers policy of relying on Youth and Reserve teams to groom players for the senior team. This season alone, Silver Strikers has promoted Adiel Kaduya, Eustice Mwale, Akuzike Lifa (who is on loan at CRECK Sporting Club), Innocent Mtonga and Lassuli Jali.
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