Arrows’ Cecafa triumph ‘shakes’ Nyasa Bullets
FCB Nyasa Bullets have acknowledged that their Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League opponents Red Arrows’ Cecafa Dar Port Kagame Cup triumph is testimony that they are a formidable side.
The Zambian outfit beat APR of Rwanda 10-9 on post-match penalties after playing out a one-all draw in regulation time in the final in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday.
As Arrows celebrated their feat in Tanzania, Bullets sang blues after losing their second TNM Super League match 2-1 to Karonga United on the same afternoon.
In an interview yesterday, the People’s Team acting chief executive officer Albert Chigoga said: “It simply shows that they are a solid team and we should take extra caution.
“Some of the teams Arrows faced at Council of East and Central Africa Football Association [Cecafa] are top sides in East Africa. Thus, winning the tournament has boosted their morale as they look forward to meeting us.”
Arrows coach Chisi Mbewe was quoted by cecafaonline.com as having said that the tournament helped them tune up for the Champions League preliminary round.
“I am impressed with the boys’ overall performance. It shows that we are on the right track as we prepare for the CAF tournament,” he said.
Mbewe further hailed his charges for the high levels of discipline and fighting spirit.
The newly-crowned Zambian national champions have in their fold former Bullets winger Peter Banda, whom they signed on a two-year deal last month.
Bullets were invited to take part in the the Cecafa tournament, but they turned down the invitation citing crammed domestic fixtures as one of the reasons.
For winning the tournament, which is bankrolled by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Arrows, who participated as a guest team received $30 000 (about K53 million).
