Kalisto Pasuwa was impressed with the high-intensity play FCB Nyasa Big Bullets displayed in the first match of the season, especially in the first half when they took Silver Strikers by the scruff at Bingu National Stadium on Saturday.
The People’s Team started the TNM Super League title defence with an entertaining 1-1 draw at a rain-soaked BNS on Saturday and the Bullets Head Coach was left pleased with how his team fared throughout the match.
He said: “A game played with intensity maybe because of the weather, but I didn’t expect that intensity from my players when we are starting off our season and this can be one of the best games that we played with high intensity. The boys really surprised me with such a highly spirited performance.”
On how the opposition turned up for the match, Pasuwa commented:
“The opposition played very well but mostly, they played in their own half, ten men behind the ball and we were trying to catch them on the break hence minimizing their goalscoring chances. Then we caught them on the break and scored the goal, but my concern is the inability to defend set pieces.
“We conceded from a set piece after we lost concentration in the box and we have been having this problem of failing to defend set pieces and lateral balls. I think with what they did, it’s a fair result, a point gained rather than two points lost. We will go back to Blantyre and rectify the mistakes we have encountered today before our next match. Thumbs up to the players and supporters who came in numbers to aid us in whatever we were doing”.
The tactician heaped more praise on Lanjesi Nkhoma, who scored Bullets’ goal in the first half, and Chawanangwa Gumbo who was a second-half substitute and stabilized the midfield.
“We were waiting for this boy to come after missing the majority of our pre-season sessions. He is one boy whom we wanted to fully have [during the pre-season preparations] but he was also called for national team duties, you saw how he fared. When he came in, he showed the reason why we bought him. As for Lanjesi Nkhoma, he is always a marvel to watch and in all the two games that he has played, he has done well and I am very proud of how he is improving his game”.
After collecting a point away in Lilongwe, Maule’s next game is at Kamuzu Stadium next week against Mafco before another central region trip where they will face FC.
