Bullets adopt Chitawira Rangers
TNM Super League champions Nyasa Big Bullets have adopted FMB Under-20 giants Chitawira Rangers as their development side to enhance their adherence to the recently deployed club licensing requirements in the elite league.
Bullets vice-general secretary Kelvin Moyo and Rangers technical director Autry Kalulu confirmed the development yesterday.
According to Moyo, the adoption of the youth side is in line with the club licensing procedures, which stipulates that each Super League team should have a youth development side, among other necessities.
When asked why they have decided to take on board another team when they already have an existing reserve side, Moyo said the reserve side is not in line with the club licensing procedures as it is more of a senior team than a youth side.
“We needed a purely youth development team that will be able to nurture players from the grass roots. Unlike a youth side, the reserve team comprises both under-20 and senior players, who can be roped into the main team anytime,” Moyo said.
On his part, Kalulu said he is happy that a high-profile topflight team like Bullets has chosen his team to become its junior side.
However, both Moyo and Kalulu said the two parties are yet to conclude their discussions on terms and conditions of their agreement.
Chitawira Rangers, which boast of producing Super League players such as Rafick Namwera (Mighty Be Forward Wanderers), Miracle Gabeya (Bullets) and Frank Kasiyano (Mafco FC), was established in 2000 and has been participating in the Kachere Under-14 League and FMB Under-20 League.
In the 2012/13 season, they reached the Standard Bank Cup round of 16 where they lost 3-1 Super League side Azam Tigers.
They were the first national champions of the FAM Under-20 Cup (now FMB U-20 Cup) in 2010.
They finished on position eight in the FMB League last season.
