Big Bullets five points clear
Big Bullets’ remarkable run in the TNM Super League continued yesterday when they beat Kamuzu Barracks 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Substitute Victor Limbani swang upfield to coolly head home Fischer Kondowe’s well-curled free-kick to send Bullets faithful into delerium in their quest to end a 10-year championship drought.
The result will keep Bullets at the summit of the the flagship log table with nine points having won all their three games so far. They have now gone five points clear.
The win also earned Bullets players K20 000 each from their former chairperson Hassam Jussab as a token of appreciation for a job well done.
Bullets were without four key players, namely captain Henry Kabichi who lost his father, defender Pilirani Zonda who was down with malaria, Dalitso Sailesi who was with the Under-20 national team in Botswana and Jimmy Zakazaka who is recovering from an injury. KB were also without injured Harvey Nkacha and Dave Banda who is away on military duty.
The first-half ended goalless, but whatever pep talk that was delivered by coach Elia Kananji and his assistant Mabvuto Lungu must have been useful as the team suddenly played with renewed purpose and it came as no surprise when they broke the deadlock through Limbani.
KB coach Charles Kamanga accepted defeat and said Bullets were a better side.
“We failed to ultilise two or three good chances we had in the first-half and in the end we got punished. Maybe it was not just our day,” said Kamanga.
Kananji thanked his troops for playing their lungs out.
“We struggled in the first-half, but after the pep talk, we were organised. We thank God for the win,” he said.
KB, who are on third position with four points, take on Red Lions at Zomba Community Centre Ground this afternoon.
In Mzuzu, Karonga United registered their first win after seeing off fellow rookies Airborne Rangers 3-1. Last week, Karonga United went down 0-1 against Bullets in their opening game.
At Silver Stadium in the capital, defending champions Silver Strikers came from two goals down to hold Mafco to a 2-2 draw.
Calisto Kalinda put Mafco in the lead before Richard Mbulu added the second when he connected home a Zasher Nong’oneza freekick, but Frank Banda reduced the arrears when he converted a penalty.
Mafco led 2-1 at interval before Rodrick Gonani equalised. It was Gonani’s third league goal in two games.
Silver had a chance to snatch a dramatic win when they were awarded another penalty, but to the disbelief of their fans, Banda missed his spot kick.
Silver are still second from the bottom at minus five points while Mafco have four points on second position.
