The People’s Team reclaimed top spot in the FDH Bank Premiership, while Bernadetta Mkandawire helped the Malawi Scorchers take a two-goal advantage in their Olympic qualifying tie.
Second-half goals from Chawanangwa Gumbo and Ephraim Kondowe secured a 2-0 victory over Blue Eagles at Mpira Stadium on Sunday as Wedson Nyirenda’s side made a winning start to the second round.
On the international stage, Mkandawire played the full match in Malawi’s 2-0 win over Zimbabwe, with fellow Bullets Women player Lyna James among the substitutes.
Elsewhere, the Reserves and Under-19 fixtures were postponed, while Prince Chalera supplied an assist for Bangwe All-Stars in their defeat to Mighty Tigers.
Here’s a closer look at the latest action across the club.
First Team
Bullets resumed their FDH Bank Premiership campaign with three points and a fifth successive league clean sheet, overcoming Blue Eagles 2-0 at Mpira Stadium.
After a goalless opening half, Gumbo provided the breakthrough with a powerful strike in the 56th minute. Kondowe added the second from the penalty spot six minutes later, taking his league tally to ten goals.
The victory lifted Nyirenda’s men to 33 points from 16 matches, restoring a one-point lead over Mighty Wanderers following their 1-0 win against Silver Strikers on Saturday.
Reserves
Bullets Reserves’ second-round opener against Ntopwa FC at Mpira Stadium was postponed after the Southern Region Football Association moved the start of the SRFA FINCA Division One League second round to the weekend of 17 October.
Henry Kabichi’s side had been scheduled to play at 11:00 on Sunday. They finished the first round top of the standings with 34 points, closing the opening half of the campaign with nine consecutive victories.
Women
Bernadetta Mkandawire helped the Malawi Scorchers establish a 2-0 first-leg lead over Zimbabwe in their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying tie at Bingu National Stadium on Friday.
Mkandawire completed the match and helped Malawi keep a clean sheet as goals from sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga secured victory. Lyna James was an unused substitute.
Under-19
Bullets Under-19’s meeting with Ndirande Dortmund, scheduled for 09:00 on Sunday at Mpira Stadium, was also postponed.
The postponement followed the Blantyre District Youth Football Committee’s decision to suspend all Under-14 and Under-19 fixtures until further notice.
A revised date for the match is yet to be confirmed.
On Loan Watch
Prince Chalera and Hadji Steven both started for Bangwe All-Stars in their 2-1 defeat to Mighty Tigers at Mpira Stadium.
Chalera provided the assist for Bangwe’s goal.
The Week Ahead
Attention first turns to the Scorchers’ return leg against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, with Mkandawire and James in the squad as Malawi seek to convert their two-goal advantage into a place in the next round.
An away meeting with MAFCO is next for the First Team in the FDH Bank Premiership, with Nyirenda’s side looking to build on Sunday’s victory and retain their place at the summit.
Bullets Women return to NBM Women’s Championship action against Assent Soccer Academy on Monday, aiming to make it four wins from four.
The Reserves await confirmation of their revised fixture as the league’s second round is scheduled to begin this weekend, while the Under-19 programme remains suspended until further notice.
