Nyasa Big Bullets drop points at home
The TNM Super League second round kicked off yesterday with leaders and defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets sweating blood to secure a point at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Impressive Kamuzu Barracks (KB) drew first blood in the 21st minute when Gregory Nachipo headed in from a set piece, but Lanjesi Nkhoma levelled the scores for Bullets in the 64th minute.
Though Kamuzu Stadium is often regarded as the People’s Team’s fortress, KB showed no respect for the defending champions and outplayed them tactically.
In the absence of suspended playmaker and captain Chimwemwe Idana, Bullets lacked fluidity in the midfield.
KB’s Gregory Nachipo and Patrick Banda paralysed Bullets midfield, utilising spaces left open, Kumilambe gave credit to his players for the victory.
He said: “We struggled early on. The players were jittery and had problems settling. But gradually we settled and got better and scored the needed goals. But I don’t like blame games but their first goal was not supposed to stand. There was a handball and my players stopped playing, thinking the ref will call for a handball.”
On his part, Tanzania coach Boniphase Pawasa expressed discontent with some of the referee’s calls.
“First I have to congratulate Malawi for the win but for me there were a lot of things that happened on the ground that did not satisfy me. I was not happy with some of decisions that the referee made.
“The ground too was not big enough for us. We are used to play on ground with lots of heaps of sand. I am happy that we had no injuries, but we will sort Malawi out in Tanzania. We have seen their weaknesses and strengths. We will work on game plan,” he said. n
and Zeliati Nkhoma, lacked precision in front.but their strikers Ndaona Daisi
After dominating the game, the visitors finally broke the home side with a dead ball when flat-footed Bullets defence allowed Nachipo to head past Clever Nkungula.
After half time, KB kept on pressing for a second goal while Bullets were still playing second on the ball and misplacing passes at will.
It had to take some substitutions from Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa, who at half time, brought in Henry Kabichi and Misheck Selemani for Righteous Banda and Patrick Mwaungulu.
Although Bullets could now create chances for its strikers, KB defenders Herbert Wayekha and Mike Ntonyo tightly marked leading scorer Babatunde Adepoje.
But Bullets, well known for being lethal in dead ball situations, utilised their expertise.
Nkhoma tapped in from a rebound after KB goalkeeper Lehman Nthala failed to stop Babatunde’s header from a Kabichi’s well taken set piece.
From then on, it was a battle of wits and emotions as the two sides tried to outmuscle each other.
KB’s closest chance was in added on time when the soldiers were denied by the post while Kabichi’s set piece from the left corner of the 18 yard box caused a goal mouth scramble which saw KB clear the ball on the line.
KB assistant coach Blessings Kawanga said although a win could have made a big difference, the draw was fine.
He said: “I’m happy with the performance of the team. We were supposed to win this game. But we should be contented with the point.”
Pasuwa said he was not surprised that they struggled against KB.
He said: “I said it before that games will be tough in the second round considering that teams now know what Bullets is capable of.”
Bullets still lead the table with 41 points from 16 matches.
In other games, Silver Strikers lost 3-1 to Mafco at Silver Stadium while Wakawaka Tigers fell by the same margin to Moyale Barracks at Mzuzu Stadium.
