Bullets woyee!
Nyasa Big Bullets caretaker coach Elia Kananji yesterday revelled in his team’s 1-0 victory over age-old rivals Be Forward Wanderers in the TNM Super League and confessed that the odds were stacked against the People’s Team.
Ironically, the lone goal scorer Emmanuel Zoya’s first name means ‘God is with us’ and whether by design or default, Kananji said: “God was on our side. I told my players that we shouldn’t fear Wanderers just because they are a star-studded team, but we should go out there and execute our game plan.”
Zoya, who is rarely featured in the first XI, stuck the lone goal in the eighth minute when he rose at the far post to beautifully head home a corner kick from veteran winger Fischer ‘Anong’a’ Kondowe, sending the ‘Red Army’ into delirium at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Despite the win, Bullets are still fourth with 21 points from 12 games, seven short of the Nomads who still sit pretty at the summit with 28 points from the same number of games.
Nomads coach Yasin ‘Titch’ Osman said they gave the game to Bullets.
“We needlessly conceded in the early stages, nevertheless we still dominated the first half and we had a couple of chances hat we failed to utilise. I would say in terms of domination, we had 70 percent, but our finishing is not up to scratch,” he said.
However, Osman admitted that his team never took a shot at Bullets’ goal.
“Of course, there was a close header from Lucky Malata and also one from precious [Msosa], but that was all. We need to do something about it.
“I am very disappointed with the result, but it is a warning that we need to up our game because being the leaders, every game will be tough,” he said.
Bullets had their moments too and striker Chiukepo Msowoya nearly added the second with two minutes before recess when he hesitated to pounce on Mike Mkwate’s cross and Chipuwa left his line to save the situation after Wanderers defender Malata was outrun.
As desperation took its toll, Osman made two changes in the second half, taking off Rafiq Namwela and Jaffalie Chande for Isaac Kaliati and Peter Wadabwa, respectively in a clear tactical move to add attack.
But the Bullets defence stood firm to bag full points. n
Your reporters should be following the game to tell us the truth. Zoya’s goal was never from a header. It was Chiukepo that headed the ball and a Be Forward defender tried to clear it on the line and Zoya finished it as it was to be cleared.