Nyasa Big Bullets shelved their Presidential Cup honeymoon to deliver their biggest TNM Super League win of the season, thrashing sorry Max Bullets 5-1 at Kamuzu Stadium on Wednesday to leave the rookies winless in 13 league games.
A good crowd braved the chilly weather to probably seek some warmth from the action, but for the larger spells of the game, it was a disappointing one-way traffic. Max did not muster a shot on target the entire first half.
Bullets coach Franco Ndawa reshuffled his pack by resting goalkeeper Ernest Kakhobwe and defender George Nyirenda, who featured in Saturday’s 1-0 cup win over Moyale Barracks, for Owen Chaima and Dalitso Sailesi, respectively.
In the other camp, coach Trevor Kajawa left on the substitutes’ bench Robson Banda and Tony Bias, whereas Frazer Menyani and Musakaike Mulenga were unavailable.
The changes worked for Bullets who effortlessly went ahead through a brilliant piece of attacking artistry from Musa Manyenje. He danced past his markers, controlled the ball then finished powerfully with a shot that had beauty plastered all over it.
If there was effort in Bullets’ opener, Chiukepo Msowoya earned a routine goal deep in the half. He fired from the edge of the box with his shot escorted into the net by defender Wachimwa Sadiki and company.
Bullets went for half time break leading 2-0, and they started the second half in similar, if not better, attacking fashion. Bullets altered their play slightly, sitting back and lifting long balls past the Max defence.
A quick switch of the ball from left to right left Max’s defence crumbling and Fischer Kondowe running. The winger burst into space before placing the ball to the far top corner of badly- exposed goalkeeper Alex Makina in the 48th minute.
A minute later, Sailesi, back from injury, picked Msowoya with a long pass into the channels. The big forward chipped the ball past Makina to make it his eighth goal in the league and Bullets’ fourth of the game.
Ndawa, with one eye on Sunday’s home match against Silver Strikers, withdrew Msowoya and defender Sankhani Mkandawire for strikers Diverson Mlozi and Muhammad Sulumba, respectively.
The change exposed Bullets’ three-man defence that had earlier lost Miracle Gabeya to an injury.
Kajawa responded by introducing more attackers Bias, Yamikani Osman and Banda for Owen Kalibwanji, Wisdom Mizeyi and Wongani Zulu, respectively.
Suddenly, there was life in the attack of Max with Bias side-footing into the net on the 69th minute. He stormed across the Bullets’ goal-mouth to connect captain Mayeso Mphanje’s delivery from the right.
It was rather too late to trouble Bullets who put matters beyond rich with McFarlen Ngwira bundling in the last goal via inside the bottom right bottom corner. Kondwani Kumwenda was probably Bullets’ man of the match for combining attacking and defensive duties with aplomb.
The win helped Bullets jump a step up from 10th to ninth place with 19 points from 11 games, seven points behind leaders Silver Strikers.
Max are rooted at the basement with four points, but Kajawa is not giving up yet.
“We planned accordingly for this game, but the way we planned and played was different. We cannot give up. Our target is to try and win some games,” Kajawa said.
Bullets assistant coach Mabvuto Lungu hailed his charges for shaking off the cup hangover to deliver the goods.
“It was not an easy game considering that we were coming from a cup win. This win brings strength and togetherness to the squad. We showed character and maturity. The three points are vital,” Lungu said.
Bullets: Chaima, Pilirani Zonda, Mkandawire (Diverson Mlozi), Yamikani Fodya, Gabeya (George Nyirenda), Sailesi, McFarlen Ngwira, Kondwani Kumwenda, Kondowe, Musa Manyenje, Msowoya (Sulumba).
Max Bullets: Makina, Wachimwa Sadiki, Mayamiko Kalima, Aubrey Chafewa, Frank Kadam’manja, Jacob Ngwira, Mizeyi (Osman), Kalibwanji (Zulu), Clement Ng’ombe, Zulu (Banda), Mphanje.
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