Performance unacceptable, Nomads coach
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers coach Mark Harrison has described his first loss to rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets as disappointing and unacceptable.
The Nomads were left searching for answers after Bullets pulled a fast one on them yet again in the NBS Bank Charity Shield which ended 2-1 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
For the bulk of the Nomads players, this was probably just another routine loss to the bitter rivals, but for Harrison this was his first defeat after taking over the reins at the Lali Lubani Road outfit.
The Briton minced no words as he described his charges performance as lacklustre.
Harrison said in a post-match interview: “Our performance was disappointing, we were second on the ball and we didn’t show the hunger to win the game unlike our opponents. It was a lacklustre performance.”
During the Sunday match, the Nomads, who boast of the best squad having dominated the transfer window, were out of sorts and conceded in the ninth minute when Maxwell Phodo Gasten capitalised on poor defending to tap in a rebound.
Substitute Stanley Billiat doubled the lead in the 71st minute when he drilled home a cut-back from Anthony Mfune who dispossessed defender Lawrence Chaziya at the far left-flank.
The Nomads pulled one back through Mischeck Botoman in the 77th minute, but that was all they could do as Bullets sailed to sixth Charity Shield victory.
However, Harrison said all is not lost as the Nomads regroup today in preparation for Sunday’s opening match against Civil Service United at their home Kamuzu Stadium.
He said: “We are in the middle of rebuilding process. Our players have great potential to deliver. Today was just one of those days in football.
“I have watched them in training and I have been with them during friendly games.
“I will be talking to them so that they get over this result and focus on our Sunday encounter against Civil Service United FC in our Super League opener.”
His counterpart Pasuwa said the victory was a good motivation as they kick off the season against Silver Strikers at the same venue on Saturday. He said: “It’s a motivation indeed. It’s how these guys approach [the game] when they are playing in this cup.
Last time we lost to them in [the Airtel Top 8] cup game and the boys were down, but here we are, they have come back and we told them if you win it, it will be a motivation to you, so it’s a timely victory heading into the new season.”
