FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves head coach Heston Munthali has praised his players’ commitment and effort despite fatigue following a 1-1 draw against The Boys in a tough ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League clash on Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium.
The young Bullets went into halftime with a narrow lead thanks to a coolly taken penalty by goalkeeper Julius Banda after Prince Chalera was fouled in the box. However, their advantage was cancelled midway through the second half when Chifundo Ngapemba netted the equalizer for the visitors.
Speaking after the final whistle, Munthali highlighted the physical strain his squad endured, having played three matches in just eight days.
“I understand my players—they didn’t get enough rest and were clearly tired. Despite that, I’m proud of their effort and performance today. We could have easily lost the match, but they showed great spirit,” he said.
Coach Munthali acknowledged the absence of two players on Malawi Under-20 duty but said the team was not overly stretched. “The bigger factor was the intensity of recent matches with limited rest. We’ll take this as a learning opportunity and aim to come back stronger.”
Munthali also acknowledged the strength of The Boys and the importance of securing a point. “They have a strong team and played well. Both sides wanted to win, but we shared the spoils. This point is important and will help us going forward. We approach every game with focus and determination, and now our focus shifts to the next challenge.”
Despite the draw, Bullets Reserves remain top of the league table with 23 points from 10 matches—two points clear of second-placed Ekhaya Reserve, who have played one game fewer.
