For the first time since 27th September, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets has supplanted Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at the top of the TNM Super League after a win over Moyale Barracks as the two side are now tied on 47 points but Bullets climbed top due to the superior goal difference.
Ephraim Kondowe and Lanjesi Nkhoma got the goals for Kalisto Pasuwa’s side, who also have three games in hand on the Nomads while Lovemore Jere and Raphael Phiri were on target for the home side in a match that ended 2-3 at Rumphi Stadium.
“very successful indeed, remember we have been playing so many games and I didn’t expect this from the boys I thought may be also intensity can be low today remember we have been playing in different temperatures, we were out of the country, we came back, we were in Blantyre, we were in Lilongwe now here in Rumphi and you could see the guys they were tired” said FCB Nyasa Big Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa.
Many expected a resilient Moyale Barracks as they lay within the relegation zone but cracks continues to emerge in Victor Chingoka’s side as they only managed to get a single point in last two matches.
The People’s team was punished for sloppy defending just after two minutes when Lovemore Jere headed home a Gastin Simkonda’s corner-kick.
Bullets responded seven minutes later when Ephraim Kondowe equalized with a powerful shot inside the box, beating Macdonald Harawa to the far bottom corner.
The Kaning’ina Soldiers nearly restored their lead on 15th minutes after Raphael Phiri’s effort beat Rabson Chienda in goals for Bullets but Gomezgani Chirwa rescued his team with a brilliant clearance before the ball crossed the line.
Chienda was forced into action again after 24 minutes when he finger tipped George Nyirenda’s dangerous attempt to concede corner-kick.
Thereafter, there was less action in the final third of either sides as their priority became long balls due to poor pitch conditions and the score line remained 1-1 until halftime.
The visitors were in full control just after the break and they took the lead on 48th minute through Kondowe who completed his brace with a volley.
Bullets had Chienda to thank again on 65th and 70th minute when he denied Jere and Hassan Upindi from equalizing with masterclass saves.
And it was 3-1 on 74th minute through Lanjesi Nkhoma’s sorrow goal who collected the ball in his half and beat three Moyale Barracks players with a terrific run into the box before smashing home.
Moyale Barracks reduced the deficit on 84th minute courtesy of Raphael Phiri’s strike but it was too late as Bullets defended their slander lead until full time.
“This victory is very vital for us in terms of motivation to the boys” added Pasuwa
The Zimbabwean tactician further responded to claims by Wanderers coach Mark Harrison and Pieter De Jongh of Silver Strikers that their chances of clinching the title relies of Bullets to drop points.
He said “you have got your house, you want to see what neighbor is doing you end up concentrating on what your doing, us as Bullets we do our own way of doing things and yes we can drop points, us we are only worried at the end of the season what would happen, we are in the race we need these boys remember we have been playing in different competitions where we need to manage them otherwise we’ll end up losing everything so we need to manage everything or even we get a draw its a plus to us will see at the end of the day”
Moyale Barracks came into the game with bitter news on their side after Super League of Malawi deducted three points from them to award Civil Service United after the Soldiers had used suspended player when the two sides met weeks ago.
The deduction of points in their bag saw them dropping down to the relegation zone as the Servants dislodged them of 13th position.
Their loss today came barely four days after dropping points again at Dedza Dynamos where they shared the spoils.
“Very painful result, as you saw we took the lead but our defense let us down as they conceded easy goals” said Chingoka
Meanwhile, Chingoka said he still optimistic that his team will climb out of the relegation if they get at least now seven points out of next three games.
