Captain Blessings Mpokera reflects on FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ belief that never wavered through what became a frustrating start to the 2026/27 campaign.
The People’s Team went unbeaten through their opening 10 league matches of the FDH Bank Premiership, recording five wins and five draws.
But the run came with its share of frustration. Our Airtel Top 8 title defence ended against Ekhaya FC, before Goshen City Dedza Dynamos handed us our first league defeat two weeks later.
We responded by beating Chitipa United at home and Karonga United away, before taking a point from a goalless draw against Luanar Mitundu in Dedza.
Those results laid the platform for an emphatic finish to the opening round, as we swept aside Silver Strikers 5-0 at Mpira Stadium on Saturday.
For the Bullets skipper, the journey reflected a dressing room that never lost faith in the work being done.
“Starting badly does not reflect who you are; what matters is how you finish,” Mpokera said.
“We didn’t get the start we wanted, but we stayed together and kept encouraging each other. The coaches continued to support us and push us to improve. That togetherness is what has brought us to where we are today.”
Belief In The Work
That resilience has carried through the change in the technical area, with Wedson Nyirenda taking charge midway through the first round.
For Mpokera, the work put in on the training ground has been central to our progress.
“We expected this, and even more, because of the work we have been putting in,” he said of the victory over Silver.
“We worked hard, encouraged each other and went into the game believing we could win. So when the result came, it was not a surprise to us because we knew what we were capable of.”
The result reflected that confidence as Ephraim Kondowe scored a hat-trick — his first in Bullets colours — while Wongani Lungu and Misheck Billiat also found the net.
Kondowe’s treble took his FDH Bank Premiership tally to nine goals, while Billiat marked his progress from the Reserves with his first senior goal since his promotion in January.
The progress has also been evident at the heart of our defence, where Mpokera has formed a strong partnership with Emmanuel Kaunga, who is in his first season with The People’s Team after arriving before the start of the campaign.
“Partnering with Kaunga has been great. We understand each other well, and that understanding has made us strong and solid at the back,” Mpokera said.
Their partnership has contributed to a defence that conceded just seven goals in the opening round — the fewest in the division.
As captain, Mpokera has also carried the responsibility of helping keep the squad focused and united.
“Being captain of Bullets comes with a big responsibility. You have to lead by example, support your teammates and make sure everyone keeps pushing in the same direction,” he said.
Backing Kondowe For More
Kondowe’s three-goal performance was one of the highlights of Saturday’s victory, but Mpokera believes there is more to come from the forward.
With nine league goals already to his name, the captain wants Kondowe to maintain the same hunger, keep working hard and take every game seriously.
“He should not be satisfied with what he has done so far. He needs to keep working, take every game seriously and keep scoring. If he continues like this, he can definitely challenge for the Golden Boot,” Mpokera said.
But while individual milestones may follow, the captain’s focus remains on what Nyirenda’s side can achieve together.
The 5-0 victory provided an emphatic finish to the first round, but Mpokera knows the challenge now is to carry that momentum into the second round as The People’s Team continue their pursuit of the championship we last won in 2023.
