Gilbert Chirwa delivered a measured assessment following FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ 1-0 victory over MAFCO FC in the FDH Bank Premiership at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza on Sunday afternoon.
The Bullets head coach was encouraged by his side’s performance, particularly the attacking intent shown in the first half, but admitted there is still work to be done in front of goal.
“We created lots of chances but we were very poor in the final third. At half-time, we told the boys not to lose hope and to keep pushing.
“We managed to score the goal and fought very hard to defend our lead when MAFCO came back with new ideas, but we defended well and won our first game. With this win, we have confidence and belief going into the next game.”
Despite the win, Chirwa admitted his side’s finishing remains a concern.
“It’s a concern because we should have had more goals in the opening half, but we were very poor in front of goal.
“We have been doing a lot of finishing in training, and when we go back, we will continue working on this so that when we create chances, we convert them.”
Our head coach also shared the thinking behind his team selection, with Yankho Singo starting on the bench alongside Wongani Lungu, while Frank Willard was unavailable through injury.
“What we do is sit down before every line-up. We assess how players are performing.
“Singo played in the derby and against Civil, and we compared performances in training before selecting the team we felt was right for this game.
“These are our players, and we will continue rotating them.”
He was also pleased with the impact of his substitutes.
“I was also pleased with how the substitutes came in and contributed. I think they did well.”
Reflecting on the second half, Chirwa dismissed suggestions that fatigue may have played a role.
“Yes, others might see fatigue, but this is the league and we always aim for three points.
“You can complain, but that cannot be an excuse. All in all, we are happy with the points we collected.”
He also highlighted the defensive effort, noting both positives and areas for improvement.
“They played well and were very steady. There are still areas we need to improve, and we will address those in training.”
Chirwa also reserved special praise for Clever Kalambo, highlighting the youngster’s intelligence and quick adaptation.
“He is clever—a very clever player. He has settled very well and very quickly.
“He is smart on the pitch, works well with his teammates, and is a joy to watch. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing for the national team.”
Attention now turns to the Blantyre derby against Mighty Wanderers next weekend, as Maule look to build on their first win of the campaign.
