2 weeks Ago By Mphatso Malidadi
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets messed up their chances of successfully defending the TNM Super League title after relegation-threatened Bangwe All Stars stunned them 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre Thursday. This is Bullets’ third loss of the season, having lost to Silver Strikers 2-0 and Karonga United 2-1. The results have left the People’s Team stuck on position 10 with 24 points from 17 games while Bangwe remain 15th on the 16-member log table with 15 points from 20 games.
Bullets trail leaders Silver Strikers by 21 points but the Central Bankers have played 19 games. Gangling forward Clever Chikwata scored the lone goal of the match when Bangwe caught Bullets’ defence napping with a swift counter attack in the 71st minute. Video replays showed that attacker James Msowoya finished the goal-bound shot but the referee awarded the goal to Chikwata.
It was a result that left coaches of both teams with contrasting facial expressions as Bullets mentor Kalitso Pasuwa admitted that he was concerned with the team’s inconsistent performances whereas his counterpart Trevor Kajawa was a delighted man. Pasuwa could not answer directly whether his charges are still fancying chances of retaining the championship. “The rate at which we are giving away matches is a cause for concern,” Pasuwa said.
Kajawa, who has registered victory in just his second match with the team, described the win as a morale booster in his team’s quest to beat the relegation trap, having been in the bottom three for the better part of the season. “Nevertheless, we should not get carried away with the win. We still have a long way to go.
Credit should go to the boys who followed my game plan perfectly,” Kajawa said. This was Bangwe’s third win of the season, with Kajawa recently replacing Rodgers Yasin. In the first half, both teams failed to create meaningful chances.
However, Bangwe were a different side to the team which lost 1-0 to Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in a cup game on Sunday. Bangwe’s defence was solid while goalkeeper Elias Missi made several saves to come to the rescue of his side. In another match, Kamuzu Barracks defeated Chitipa United 2-0.
Samuel Chiponda and Gregory Nachipo scored for the soldiers..
