FCB Nyasa Big Bullets stars Maxwell Gasten Phodo and Blessings Mpokera have been nominated for the 2025 Airtel Top 8 Player of the Tournament following their key roles in the club’s successful title defence in last year’s competition.
The two Bullets players are among three finalists unveiled by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) for the award, alongside Silver Strikers midfielder Festus Duwe.
Bullets retained the prestigious cup after defeating Silver Strikers in the final played in July 2025, underlining The People’s Team’s continued dominance in one of Malawi’s premier knockout competitions.
Phodo earned his nomination after delivering decisive contributions throughout Bullets’ title-winning campaign. The forward featured in all four matches, starting twice, and scored two goals in 171 minutes of action.
One of the defining moments of his tournament came in the quarter-finals when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 second-leg victory over Creck Sporting Club, sealing our place in the semi-finals.
He also played a decisive role in the final against Silver Strikers, opening the scoring as Bullets went on to draw 1-1 in regulation time before winning 4-3 on penalties to successfully retain the title.
Phodo’s decisive contributions in key moments proved instrumental in helping Bullets defend the prestigious cup. The nomination also comes during a remarkable run of form for the forward, who last week won both the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament awards in the Castel Challenge Cup at the FAM Awards.
Mpokera was equally influential, delivering commanding performances at the heart of defence throughout the competition. The centre-back started all four matches and played every minute of the tournament, accumulating 360 minutes on the pitch.
His performances helped Maule keep two clean sheets during the campaign as The People’s Team marched to another Airtel Top 8 triumph.
Silver Strikers midfielder Festus Duwe is the third nominee after an impressive run in the tournament. The midfielder featured in three matches, all as a starter, scoring three goals and winning two Player of the Match awards to finish as the competition’s top scorer.
Bullets’ double representation on the shortlist reflects the club’s strong performances throughout the competition as The People’s Team once again retained the Airtel Top 8 trophy.
According to FAM, the nominees were selected by the Competitions Technical Study Group following an analysis of match statistics and individual performances throughout the tournament.
The winner of the 2025 Airtel Top 8 Player of the Tournament will be announced at a special awards ceremony to be hosted by Airtel Malawi, with the date yet to be confirmed.
