The brave that crossed thegreat divide

 As domestic football powerhouses FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers renew their rivalry this afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre in the 75th Super League Blantyre derby, Weekend Nation looks at some of the big-name players that defied the odds to cross the great divide from either side over the years.

Revered former forward Yasin ‘Titch’ Osman set the pace when he dumped the Nomads, then known as Mighty Yamaha Wanderers, for a new lease of life at Bullets during the 1967/68 season, becoming the first player to be bought at a 100 pound transfer fee.

In an interview on Thursday, Yasin considered by many as the best striker of his generation on the domestic scene, said: “When Bullets secured sponsorship from Bata Shoe Company, they wanted  to strengthen their side and that is when they made an offer to Wanderers for my services.

“It was a move that fuelled the rivalry considering that I was one of the key players at Wanderers and it wasn’t an easy decision at all.”

A Blantyre-based Wanderers fan Fred Manda recalls that the move almost created a storm.

“As supporters, we struggled to come to terms with the reality and it took us time to accept,” he recalls.

The following season, Yasin’s brother Alaudin, another legend, also joined the the People’s Team.

Yasin, Now Wanderers technical director, said he returned to Lali Lubani Road towards the twilight of his career after a stint with Michiru Castles in between.

The other switch that hogged the limelight was that of former midfielder Peterkins ‘Beirut’ Kayira from Wanderers to Bullets towards the end of 1982.

However, the heading specialist attributed his move to “utter childishness”.

He said: “My switch made headlines because I was at the top of my game and Wanderers were at pains to accept my decision. They tried to entice me to stay by, among other things, negotiating with my employers to more than double my salary, but I stuck to my decision.

“The reason I quit Wanderers was mainly because I had asked for a K60 loan, which was then a lot of money, but it wasn’t approved and yet they went on to give [the late] Jimmy Mphamba a loan double the amount when he had applied  after me

“So, to be honest, my move was out of pure immaturity on my part.”

Kayira joined Bullets on a swap deal with fellow midfielder Maloya Siriya moving to the blue side of town.

“But Bullets topped up with a certain amount because I was then valued more than Maloya,” he said.

Ironically, both scored in their debut during a Kamuzu Cup preliminary round match between the two teams in 1983.

“Maloya put Wanderers ahead, then we equalised and I scored the winning goal for Bullets. I remember we went on to win the cup after beating Sucoma in the final,” he said.

A season after Kayira’s move, Bullets also poached a defender Donald Chawinga from Wanderers.

The other transfer that hogged the limelight was that of McDonald Yobe who also ditched the Nomads to join Bullets in early 2002.

The Nomads made frantic efforts to persuade the former winger to stay, but he still crossed the great divide and was sold at a record K800 000 transfer fee then.

He said: “The temptation was just too much. The signing-on fee that Bullets offered me coupled with other incentives from the then Bullets chairperson [the late] Hassam Jussab, including furniture at Supreme [furniture shop], was just irresistible. Wanderers was dearest to my heart, but I just couldn’t resist the temptation.

“I remember spending a week in Lilongwe for the situation to calm down as Wanderers fans hunted for me.”

Yobe scored the lone goal in the final of the Carlsberg Cup the same year against his former team.

Former stars Andrew ‘Aluki’ Chikhosi, Chikondi ‘Doctor’ Banda and John ‘CJ’ Banda also ‘crossed the floor’ from Bullets to Wanderers and Maxwell Chirwa, the other way round, but they did not attract much attention as they were deemed to be past their prime.

Current Nomads assistant coach Meck Mwase’s switch from Nomads to Bullets also caused a stir so did Muzipasi Mwangonde’s surprise move from Bullets to Wanderers.

Lanky Nigerian striker Babatunde Adepoju and Precious Sambani’s moves from Wanderers to Bullets in recent years, also hit headlines.

Lately, Ephraim Kondowe and Mathews Masamba also joined Bullets from Wanderers