Babatunde makes debut for Bullets

Nigerian forward Babatunde Adepoju made his debut for Nyasa Big Bullets in a Group A Cecafa Club Championship match against Tanzanian giants Young Africans in Dar es Salaam, which ended one-all.

The gangly forward joined the People’s Team as a free agent early last month following the expiry of his contract with Bullets’ arch-rivals Mighty Wanderers FC.

However, he has not featured in domestic competitions having joined Bullets when the local transfer window was closed.

In an interview from Dar es Salaam yesterday, Bullets assistant coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda said he was impressed with Babatunde’s performance.

“He was outstanding and did not struggle to fit in despite being his first match.

“His movements on and off the ball were top-notch and he has all the attributes of a good striker,” he said.

Babatunde was substituted in the 60th minute for another new-signing Anthony Mfune.

On the team’s overall performance, the former Bullets captain said: “The team played very well. Of course, we struggled in the first 10 minutes, but thereafter, we were cruise control. We dominated the better part of the match and created some good chances, unfortunately we could not utilise them.

“I think we struggled in the early stages because we had a tough TNM Super League match against Silver [Strikers] on Friday and then we left the following day.

“So, obviously, the players tire, but they gave their best shot.”

Mponda also said the priority of taking part in the Confederation of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) tournament is not the results, but to tune up for the CAF Champions League preliminary round as well as the remaining league matches.

The hosts took the lead through Waziri Junior in the seventh minute, but Bullets pulled level through Chiukepo Msowoya’s penalty in the 29th minute.

 Bullets’ next match is against Uganda champions Express tomorrow.