Bullets Reserves win third successive ThumbsUp title
Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves on Saturday won the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) League Premier Division title for the third successive season following a 2-0 victory over Bangwe All Stars in the final.
The victory at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre also helped the Enos Chatama-coached side to become the first second-tier league outfit to defend four trophies within a season as they also reclaimed the Powerstart Tayale Cup, the Nyasa Capital Finance Cup and the Aubrey Dimba Trophy.
Goals in each half from Lyton Chinong’one and Emmanuel Savieli, who finished as the top scorer with 24 goals, were enough to prove the reserves’ impressive performance in the 2022 season.
The encounter seemed a balanced affair with both sides coming up with several attacks, but it was the People’s Team’s feeder side who took the lead in the 13th minute when Chinong’one smuggled in a loose ball from a rebound after All Stars goalkeeper Elias Missi repelled Chikumbutso Salima’s header in the box.
Savieli doubled Reserves’ lead to put the game beyond All Stars reach with a simple tap-in 12 minutes to time as he lurched on to Macray Chiwaya’s sliding pass in the penalty area.
All Stars also had several chances, especially in the second half, but were wasteful with their Nigerian striker Friday Osagie the notable culprit.
Chatama hailed his charges for playing according to instructions.
He said: “We could have scored more after opening our attacking lines in the second half.
“All the same, victory was what we were looking for and we are happy.”
On his part, All Stars coach Mabvuto ‘Tigana’ Lungu said they put up a gallant fight, but were just unfortunate to lose the final.
Despite the loss, All Stars have still earned promotion to the TNM Super League at the expense of Reserves as the rules do not allow a club to have two teams in the top-flight.
Rab Processors Group of Companies communication manager Andrew Lulker said they were happy with how competitive the league was, leading to the extension of the sponsorship contract for another three years.
SRFA chairperson Raphael Humba said they were grateful to the sponsors for the continued partnership.
