The goalless draw between leaders Silver Strikers and FCB Nyasa Bullets at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday halted the People’s Team’s five-year TNM Super League title dominance.
The reigning champions are third with 45 points from 26 matches and even if they win all their remaining four matches, they will finish the season with 57 points, a point below the Bankers’ current tally.
The battle for the title has now been reduced to a two-horse race between Silver and second-placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, who have 53 points also from 26 matches.
painful reality
Bullets, who are record 17-time flagship league champions since its inception in 1986, have won the league five seasons on the trot under the tutelage of their Zimbabwean coach Kallisto Pasuwa.
In an interview yesterday, Bullets acting chief executive officer Albert Chigoga conceded that the title is now beyond reach.
He said: “The stats say it all. It is a painful reality that we have finally surrendered the league championship.
“We have drawn many lessons and we will return much stronger next season.”
But Pasuwa appeared not to be in line with the log table standings after the match as he brushed off suggestions to fight for runners-up slot, insisting that he would fight on to the end.
“I am still playing games until the last day… The difference is too big to catch them [Silver], very true. But that’s what football is all about. If one team can score 26 goals, it can happen.”
On his part, Silver mentor Peter Mponda said the gap with Wanderers is enough to enable them seal the title they last won 11 years ago.
“So far, so good. We are on the right track. We are happy with the progress and we aren’t panicking,” he said.
Football analyst Charles Nyirenda has attributed Bullets’ failure to defend the title to their dry winless spell in the first part of the first round.
He said: “They had a string of draws. Overall though, they haven’t played badly only that Silver Strikers made a flying start in the entire first round only to slow down after the mid-point upon which they have found winning difficult.
“No wonder they got booted out of the FDH and Castel Challenge Cup cups by lower league teams.
“Bullets have in 26 matches only lost three times whereas Silver haven’t lost a match yet. To an extent, by remaining undefeated, Silver have enjoyed the advantage of staying put on top of the log table with Wanderers chasing behind.”
