Bullets undecided on Reserve promotion
Nyasa Big Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga says they are undecided whether to have two teams in the TNM Super League next season if their reserve side qualifies for promotion.
Bullets Reserve will face Sable Farming FC in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) League Premier Division final on September 25 with the winner automatically qualifying for top-flight league promotion.
The outfit won the second-tier league title and got promoted into the TNM Super League in 2019 but they surrendered their slot to the then second-placed Ntopwa FC, arguing that they could not have two teams in the elite league.
But Chigoga said while there is a possibility for a repeat of their previous decision, there is also a chance that Bullets Reserve might get the slot.
“It is no automatic that we will repeat what we did in 2019 as that is up to the Bullets board of directors to decide,” he said.
“Therefore, no team should expect to get promoted behind our back; they have to fight for it. Bullets Reserve badly need the ThumbsUp League title and it is possible that they might join their main team in the top-flight.”
Sable Farming technical director Duncan Ngulanga said they are aware that Bullets Reserve will fight for both the title and promotion.
“Everyone in our camp is aware that the best way to earn Super League promotion is to fight for a straight win against Bullets Reserve in the ThumbsUp final. There is no need to get the ticket through the backdoor. We respect Bullets Reserve, but we not fear them,” he said.
Reserve thrashed Blantyre City FC 8-2 on aggregate after 4-1 triumphs in the two-legged semi-final while Sable secured a 4-0 aggregate win over Changalume Barracks following 1-0 and 3-0 victories.
SRFA general secretary Dyles Kachala said they expect a fiery clash in the final, whose venue is yet to be decided.
“Taking into account their performance in our league so far, both sides are capable of representing us well in the Super League. We wish them the best of luck as they prepare for the final showdown,” he said.
