FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves head coach, Heston Munthali, says he is encouraged by the steady improvement his young squad continues to show, despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Thondwe FC at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Southern Region Football League.
Bullets dominated large spells of the match and crafted several promising chances but were ultimately denied a breakthrough by a resolute Thondwe side.
Struggles in the First Half, Stronger Response After the Break
Reflecting on the performance, Munthali acknowledged that his side were second best for large parts of the first half.
“It was a tough match, and earning a point was important for us. In the first half, we were second on everything and could easily have conceded, but the boys stayed focused and held on,” he said.
The coach credited halftime adjustments for shifting the tempo in Bullets’ favour.
“At halftime, after speaking to them and making a few changes, we came out stronger, played our game, and controlled the match.”
Chances Created but Finishing Falls Short
Bullets carved out good openings throughout the second half but lacked the decisive touch in the final third.
“We created good chances but didn’t take them, and the opponents also had their moments, but we were solid at the back,” Munthali noted.
He highlighted the crucial interventions from goalkeeper Julius Banda, who kept Bullets in the contest with a series of important saves.
“Julius made some very important saves to keep us in the game. The boys are improving with every match, and today they showed great progress, especially in the second half.”
While the performance was encouraging, Munthali admitted that sharper decision-making around the box remains a key area to improve.
“We just lacked the clinical edge in the final third, but we will go back to training and continue working on our weaknesses and finishing.”
A Valuable Point in a Long Campaign
Munthali emphasised the importance of maintaining perspective with a developing squad, stressing that every point matters as the season progresses.
“We are taking each game as it comes, and this point is huge for us. It will help us in the upcoming fixtures. The boys understand the importance of winning, and even though we wanted all three points, we will keep moving forward.”
He praised the team’s overall progress and encouraged continued patience as the project grows.
“I’m satisfied with where we are and how we are playing. This is a developing team, and we cannot demand too much from the boys. We appreciate the point we earned today and build from here.”
