Mighty Wanderers FC

BE FORWARD Wanderers
Full name Be Forward Wanderers Football Club[1]
Nickname(s) The Nomads
Founded 1962
Ground Kamuzu Stadium
Blantyre
Ground Capacity 50,000
Chairman George Chamangwana
Manager Chiyembekezo Zidana
League TNM Super League
2013–14 6th

Be Forward Wanderers Football Club are a Malawian football (soccer) club based in Blantyre. They currently play in Malawi's TNM super league.

History

The BE FORWARD Wanderers F.C are one of the more successful teams in the Malawi Premier Division, based in Blantyre. They have won 5 titles in the league, with their latest being the 2006 season. In 2005 and 2006 their leading striker, Aggrey Kanyenda was the top goal scorer in the 2005–06 season.[2] They boast to have the second largest support base after their arch rivals and sworn enemies on the field Big Bullets. Even though there are no real stats on the number of fans the two teams have, it is estimated that Big Bullets have a slightly bigger fan base than Wanderers.

Recent memorable derbys

The rivalry between Big Bullets and BE FORWARD wanderers starts to kick off every time both clubs meet in 2006–07 both clubs met wanderers went ahead in the first half. Deep second half Bullets scored a goal but it was offside. The Bullets fans went angry started throwing things on to the pitch and the ref in charge abandoned the game, Wanderers had won that match 3–0 because of disqualification. The two teams have met domestic in cup finals few times since the early 1990s, most notably the 1999 Malawi Carlsberg Cup final. The match ended 1–1 after 90 minutes and went to extra time, Wanderers scored a dramatic golden goal to lift the cup. Few years later Bullets got their revenge when they beat Wanderers 1–0 in 2001 final of the same cup, to make matters worse it was Wanderers' old boy Mc Donald Yobe who scored the only goal against his former employers. The infamous 2003 final, probably the most anticipated, the two teams clashed in final of the same competition, Wanderers took an early lead in the first half when their wonderkid Joseph Kamwendo scored, he was only 17 at the time. Bullets equalised through their veteran striker Ganizani M'bobo Malunga. Wanderers scored two more goals but were disollowed for offside. This caused the fans to clash in the terraces, the match was abandoned and has never been replayed.[3] Due to crowd troubles Carlsberg ended their sponsorship and other companies have also terminated contracts most notably Bp Top 8, Malawis biggest football competition in terms of prize money to date. The pair clashed again in the semi final of this trophy, wanderers won 3–1 to reach the finals. This time it was Bullets fans against the riot police in the stands and went on to the streets of Blantyre. Wanderers went on to win the trophy after beating northern regions biggest club Moyale Barracks FC 1–0 in Lilongwe.

In 2014, the club won a sponsorship of about 70 million Malawi Kwacha from BE FORWARD, a Japanese Car Exporter.

Due to sponsorship reasons, the team was previously known as Limbe Leaf Wanderers, Telecom Wanderers, MTL Wanderers and currently BE FORWARD Wanderers.

Achievements

1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2006
2004
1999
2005,2015
2004, 2006
2008

Performance in CAF competitions

1997 – Preliminary Round
1998 – First Round
1999 – First Round
2000 – First Round

References

  1. ↑ Nomads Seal be Forward sponsorship deal and renamed the club to Mighty Be Forward Wanderers
  2. ↑ "Mighty Wanderers F.C". Soccer Way.
  3. ↑ "Carlsberg Milawi Cup". Football Association of Milawi Official Website.
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