BB champs!
Big Bullets are 2015 TNM Super League champions thanks to a spectacular Jaffalie Chande brace that helped them come from behind to retain the title with a 2-1 victory over stubborn Azam Tigers at Kamuzu Stadium.
The title is a record 12th for the People’s Team who have secured it with four games to spare.
They have unassailable 57 points from 24 games since the closest competitor, Mafco FC, can only amass 55 points if they win their remaining five games.
Wednesday’s victory was not on a silver platter. Bullets diehards endured 45 minutes of anguish as Tigers took the lead in eighth minute through striker Bright Munthali who had the last touch from a set piece when defender Sankhani Mkandawire helped the ball towards his goal.
Tigers had a chance to take the game beyond Bullets’ reach.
But instead, they resorted to ‘park the bus’ hoping to hit Bullets on counter-attack.
It’s only in the second half when coach Gerald Phiri changed tactics and Tigers started making incursions into Bullets territory.
But then Bullets had engaged an extra gear.
Goalkeeper Ernest Kakhobwe did well to keep Tigers’ lead by stopping Yamikani Fodya’s set-piece and Chikondi Likwemba’s rebound. Bashir Maunde also saw the agile goalkeeper save his full volley.
But in most bizarre circumstances, the acrobatic goalkeeper was left rooted like a tree when pint-sized Chande rose to head in a Fodya cross from the left.
What the former Epac marksman lacks in height is hugely compensated by his good positioning, pace, acumen and the capability to elude defenders when Bullets wingers Dalitso Sailesi and Macfarlane Mgwira are in full throttle.
If the equaliser that came in 56th minute sent the Bullets fans into frenzy you can bet Chande’s winner scored in similar fashion in the 75th minute, left them in tears of joy. n
