FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Peter Mponda has reflected on Sunday’s Airtel Top 8 Final victory over Silver Strikers, admitting that missed first-half chances made the match more challenging, but praised his side’s resilience in securing the historic win.
The People’s Team dominated the first half with confident possession and attacking intent, but Babatunde Adepoju’s 15th-minute penalty miss denied us an early lead and allowed The Bankers to grow into the game.
Maxwell Phodo broke the deadlock early in the second half with a 49th-minute strike, but Stain Davie equalised for Silver in the 65th minute, forcing the final into a tense penalty shootout, which Bullets won 4-3 to retain the Airtel Top 8 crown.
“We Made It Tough, But We Delivered”
In his post-match reaction, Mponda acknowledged that Bullets should have sealed the victory within normal time instead of relying on penalties.
“We made life very difficult for ourselves because we had a penalty, and had we scored it, we could have won the game convincingly. But we missed, and after taking the lead, we failed to defend and allowed them back in the game. However, despite the setback, the boys kept calm and finished the job in the shootout to retain the cup. Credit to the boys for not giving up,” he said.
Nyasulu’s Crucial Role
Mponda also praised goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu, whose penalty save proved vital in the shootout.
“Right now, he is doing very well. He has confidence, and I trust him to deliver for the team. There was no reason to replace a player who is performing at such a high level. He stepped up and delivered — that’s why we kept him in goal,” Mponda explained.
A Final to Remember
The coach hailed the atmosphere and quality of the final.
“You saw it yourself — the stadium was full to capacity. I don’t remember the last time a final had such a turnout. This shows these two teams are the giants of Malawian football. The Bankers are the TNM Super League champions, and Bullets are the defending Airtel Top 8 champions. We played well, and the fans enjoyed every minute of the action because two top teams were competing,” he said.
Staying Grounded
Despite the historic win, Mponda emphasized the need to focus on upcoming challenges.
“Bullets is a demanding club. We shouldn’t over-celebrate or get carried away because winning is part of the club’s culture. It has been winning before I arrived, and I am just continuing where my predecessor left off.
We made it tough for ourselves by relaxing after scoring. We need to build on this and improve in the league, especially after last week’s loss [to Civil Service United in the league]. We still have more important matches ahead,” he concluded.
This victory marks Peter Mponda’s first trophy as Bullets head coach, making him the second coach to win the Airtel Top 8 Cup after Kalisto Pasuwa, who led the club to its previous three titles.
