FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Wedson Nyirenda felt his side’s determination to find a winner proved decisive in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Civil Service United, despite a performance that fell short of their usual standards.
Paul Master supplied the breakthrough in the 83rd minute at Mpira Stadium, coming off the bench to settle a demanding FDH Bank Premiership encounter.
For Nyirenda, the willingness to keep pursuing all three points was the defining quality of an afternoon when our usual fluency proved elusive.
“We didn’t play our usual game. It was a very difficult game for us, but the boys are still showing the signs of a championship mentality. They didn’t give up when hope was lost, and we got the win, so for that, I am happy with the fighting spirit,” he said.
Bullets threatened inside the opening minute when Wongani Lungu’s long-range effort forced Rahaman John into a superb save, but Civil settled and made clear openings difficult to create.
With the sides level at the break, Nyirenda introduced Master and Tinaye Tsimba for Chawanangwa Gumbo and Lungu, looking to give our possession greater attacking purpose.
Master’s ability to pass through the lines was central to that adjustment, helping Bullets play through Civil’s organised defence before he delivered the decisive finish himself.
“We needed to change our style of play, so we needed a player who could give us those forward passes like Paul, and as you can see, when he came in, he gave us two of those line-breaking passes, but we couldn’t finish. And then, he had to do it himself with that brilliant goal. So yes, in the end, it worked for us,” he explained.
The changes helped Bullets carry a greater threat after the interval. Clever Kalambo was denied by John before Tsimba could not make clean contact with the rebound, while the Zimbabwean later sent an effort inches wide.
Civil continued to resist, but Master broke the deadlock seven minutes from the end of normal time with a powerful strike that gave John no chance.
It was one of just two Bullets attempts on target across the contest, with the midfielder’s match-winning contribution earning him the Player of the Match award.
Nyirenda’s men protected their advantage through five minutes of added time, securing a result the head coach felt reflected their growing resolve.
“That was a mark of a championship mentality. Whether the game was not open for us, we still pushed for a win. When we were struggling a bit, we just had to pick up the points, so we played an important game, especially in the second half, and we picked up the points,” he concluded.
Victory took Bullets to 39 points from 18 matches and extended our unbeaten league run to seven games, all without conceding.
