FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have beaten Silver Strikers 7-6 on post match penalties to lift Charity Shield cup for the seveth successive time.
After a barren 90 minutes at the magnificent Bingu National Stadium, the game went into penalties where FCB Nyasa Big Bullets new signing Innocent Nyasulu made two penalty saves to hand his team the golden medal.
It was a balanced start of the first half with both sides defending deep to avoid conceding an early goal.
The game produced first attempt on goal on 23rd minute when George Chikooka produced a fine save to Bullets’ Precious Phiri long range shot.
Three minutes later Bankers were on target when Binwell Katinji’s clever touch to Mark Fodya’s delivery in the box was brilliantly saved by Innocent Nyasulu.
The People’s Team came again on 43rd minute with another attempt but Chikooka again denied Maxwell Gasten Phodo to round him off with an interception before saving Chikumbutso Salima’s thunderbolt on the rebound.
After a stalemate first half, both teams made changes that raised the intensity of the game but scoring remained the problem.
Phiri who looked hungry for the goals for the part of Bullets registered his second shot on target on 78th minutes, but Chikooka made another denial and at the other end it was Macdonald Lameck who pulled a 30-yard trigger which was well catched by Nyasulu.
After a draw at 90 minutes it was penalties that separated the men from boys.
Peter Mponda who worked under Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa for four years was handed false hopes after Precious Sambani missed Bullets’ first spot kick.
After both teams scored subsequent for penalties, Duncan Nyoni was entrusted to finish the job and hand his team first official trophy in two years but he was denied by the wood work.
The People’s team went on scoring twice while Silver’s two spot kicks by Gift Chunga and captain Chikondi Kamanga were saved by Innocent Nyasulu.
This means Bullets has managed to win seven Charity Shields in a row beating Silver Strikers and Wanderers thrice each as well as Kamuzu Barracks once.
