Peter Mgangira has had a dream start as Silver Strikers head coach, guiding his team to victory in the NBD Bank Charity Shield Cup after edging Mighty Wanderers in a thrilling encounter at Bingu National Stadium. The Bankers finally clinched the title after three previous failed attempts, having lost to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in 2018, 2022, and 2024.
Wanderers drew first blood in the 26th minute when Sama Tanjong finished off a well-worked move, giving the Nomads an early lead. However, Silver Strikers responded in the second half through Binwell Katinji, who converted a Precious Sambani delivery to level the game.
The Nomads regained their lead when Blessings Singini struck from distance, beating Silver’s goalkeeper George Chikooka. Despite being on the back foot, Silver kept pressing and eventually found the equalizer when Zebron Kalima pounced on a set-piece to force the game into penalties.
The penalty shootout proved decisive as George Chikooka emerged as Silver’s hero, saving Blessings Singini’s spot-kick. Meanwhile, Chancy Mtete, Wanderers’ new signing, failed to stop any of Silver Strikers’ penalties, handing the Bankers their first Charity Shield triumph.
This victory extends Silver Strikers’ dominance over Mighty Wanderers, marking their seventh consecutive win against the Nomads in all competitions. The Bankers also became the only other team besides Bullets to win the Charity Shield since its inception in 2016.
Mgangira fielded three new signings in the match, with Precious Sambani starting at left back, while Festus Duwe and Emmanuel Allan also made their full debuts. Katinji justified his selection by finding the net in regular time and converting in the shootout.
Wanderers’ chances took a significant blow when Sama Tanjong limped off injured just before halftime, forcing Bob Mpinganjira to bring in Clement Nyondo. The injury compounded their defensive struggles, as Stanley Sanudi had to fill in as a makeshift left-back due to Timothy Silwimba’s absence.
Despite these challenges, the Nomads’ backline, featuring Emmanuel Nyirenda and Lawrence Chaziya, held firm for much of the game. However, Chaziya’s red card for a serious foul on Chinsinsi Maonga left Wanderers with ten men for the final 20 minutes, making it harder for them to maintain their lead.
Blessings Singini had an impressive performance as a box-to-box midfielder, scoring a brilliant goal, but his penalty miss in the shootout proved costly. Wanderers’ other penalty takers—Isaac Kaliati, Emmanuel Nyirenda, and Promise Kamwendo—converted their kicks, but Silver’s perfect record from the spot sealed the victory.
Despite their fighting spirit, the Nomads once again fell short in a major final, continuing their struggles against Silver Strikers. As the Bankers celebrated their well-earned win, Wanderers were left to reflect on missed opportunities and the impact of injuries and suspensions on their game plan.
After the match, Mgangira praised his charges for winning saying it was well deserved.
“It was a good match though we had a slow start. This resulted in us conceding a goal in the first half but the boys came back in the game later on. The win today will give confidence to the players going into the new season,” he said.
On his part, Bob Mpinganjira attributed the defeat to the red card and Sama Tanjong’s injury.
“The players gave everything, scoring twice but red card changed everything. We have seen where we can work on as the season starts next week,” he said.
Silver Strikers are kicking off their title defence with FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at Bingu National Stadium while Mighty Wanderers are up against Blue Eagles.
