FCB Nyasa Bullets on Saturday became the first team to defend the Zamadolo Airtel Top 8 for the record third time following their 1-0 victory over Silver Strikers at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
So, the K30 million trans ID went to the People’s Team. There were scenes so lovely after the final whistle when Bullets fans exploded as the tidal wave of pride swept through their veins, stirring their vast nest of emotions into ecstasy.
The toast of the afternoon was the scorer of the priceless goal Ernest Petro who was also named player of the match.
The beauty of it lay in the execution. Bullets won a corner in the 71st minute. They took it short which led to Alick Lungu delivering a left-foot curler and Petro rose on the blind side. For a moment, he floated on air, his gaze fixed on the ball as it spun towards him.
There was a touch of majesty about his flight, an air of conviction about his deadly intentions.
Then boom! He coolly headed the ball home past Silver’s goalkeeper George Chikooka to send Bullets fans into delirium.
The first half, which the Bankers dominated, was, in all fairness, a yawn with only one weak attempt on target from Silver’s Zebron Kalima.
Ot h e rwi s e , t h e two goalkeepers would have had the luxury of browsing their mobile phones without harm.
But the tempo changed in the second half when both teams made substitutions. Siver introduced Levison Maganizo and Charles Chipala for Uchizi Vunga and Binwell Kantinji respectively, while Bullets threw in Lloyd ‘Banega’ Aaron for Wongani Lungu.
Cometh the 71st minute, cometh the man to make the difference as Petro claimed the winner with a beauty of a header.
Silver nearly levelled the scores in added time, but it was cleared on the line by Yamikani Mologeni and relief was the prevalent emotion in the red side of town.
The solace for the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored side was the K10 million runners-up prize and their forward Chinsisi Maonga winning the golden boot with three goals and a cool K1 million.
Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa said winning the Airtel Top 8 after struggles in the season was unprecedented.
“Thanks to the boys. It is good after a difficult season,” he said.
His Silver counterpart, Peter Mponda, a former Bullets assistant coach, said: “It was a tight game. It’s disappointing that we lost, but I felt we dominated. As for their goal, we slept as the corner was being taken and we paid the price. We gifted them the goal.”
It was the first time for Bullets to win the Airtel Top 8 final at Bingu National Stadium after two fruitless attempts
It was not just about breaking the jinx. To add extra spice, they won the cup without conceding a goal.
