Nyasa back Bullets coaching panel

Despite a string of poor results, Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC), sponsors of Nyasa Big Bullets FC, have thrown their weight behind the club’s coaching panel.

This comes in the wake of the ultimatum which the club’s executive committee gave to coach Lloyd Nkhwazi and his assistant Mabvuto Lungu to win last week’s TNM Super League encounter against Silver Strikers. The match ended in a one-all draw.

But NMC managing director Dimitri Kalaitzis, yesterday said as a main stakeholder, they feel the coaching panel should not be put under pressure.

“We know desperation is taking its toll among the stakeholders and the fans in particular, but rather than pile pressure on the coaches, we must thrive to motivate them and the players so that we do well in the remaining six games.

“We have six games to wind up the league and we do not think changing coaches at this stage would help our cause. As a board [of NMC], we feel we can retain the title if we win all our remaining games,” he said.

He urged the ‘Red Army’ (Bullets fans) to patronise the team’s remaining games so as to motivate their players and thereby create an intimidating atmosphere for the opponents.

“Man for man, we have the best team in the land and with the support from the 12th player, we will retain the league,” he said.

Kalaitzis also said despite the internal problems that rocked the team recently, NMC will honour its five-year partnership obligation.

“Problems will always be there, but I can assure the Bullets family that we are committed to this partnership and our wish is to see to it that this team turns commercial in the next three to five years.

“We believe that with commitment from all stakeholders, the dream of turning this team into a continental force, will be realised.”

Meanwhile, Bullets chairperson Noel Lipipa has said the coaches will be given a free role.

“Of course, desperation to retain the title is taking its toll, but we need not to pour pressure on the coaches by summoning them to meetings and so on. Nevertheless, we have outlined our expectations to them that we need to retain the title at all cost,” he said.

Since beating their age-old rivals Be Forward Wanderers 1-0 in a league match, the Bullets have drawn thrice against Red Lions, Azam Tigers and Silver (in league matches) and have lost once to Silver in a Fisd Challenge Cup match. n