The just-ended 2025 TNM Super League season tested every team’s resilience, strategy, and consistency. For FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, it became a campaign where discipline and performance went hand in hand.
Despite injuries in defence, The People’s Team combined structure, composure, and attacking ambition, cementing their mark on the league.
The disciplinary chart published by the Super League of Malawi confirms Bullets as the only team to go the whole season without a red card — a true testament to the squad’s professionalism, leadership on the pitch, and maturity in high-pressure matches.
Discipline That Matched Performance
Bullets finished the season with just 27 yellow cards, the second-lowest tally in the league. That discipline complemented a strong league campaign which saw The People’s Team finish second on the log with 66 points.
Across 30 matches, Maule scored a league-high 60 goals and conceded only 20. Even while chasing the title, Bullets consistently balanced aggression with restraint, competing fiercely without crossing the line.
Players and Officials Disciplined
Throughout the season, several Bullets players served suspensions after accumulating three yellow cards, including Paul Master, Sean McBrams, Yankho Singo, and Babatunde Adepoju.
Andrew Jovinala, Henry Chiwaya, Maxwell Phodo, and captain Frank Willard each received two yellow cards, while Aaron Chilipa, Blessings Joseph, Blessings Mpokera, Hassan Kajoke, Lameck Gamphani, and Khumbo Banda picked up one yellow card apiece.
Defenders such as Chiwaya, Jovinala, Chilipa, Joseph, Mpokera, and Khumbo Banda were primarily responsible for maintaining defensive solidity, often absorbing cautions as part of their tactical duties. Attackers McBrams, Phodo, Babatunde, and Kajoke also maintained discipline, with yellow cards reflecting tactical challenges and aggressive pressing rather than reckless play.
In the technical area, former head coach Peter Mponda was the only team official to receive yellow cards, picking up two during the season. Across the league, a total of 17 red cards and 19 yellow cards were issued to team officials to maintain order in the technical areas.
Consistency Under Pressure
The People’s Team competed strongly against both top and mid-table opposition. While a handful of matches saw points dropped that ultimately proved decisive in the title race, Bullets’ composure and disciplined approach never wavered, underlining the character within the squad.
Injuries also played a significant role during the campaign, particularly in defence. Chrispin Mapemba, Chilipa, and Jovinala were sidelined at various stages, while Mpokera missed the final six matches. Despite these disruptions, discipline remained intact, with rotated players adapting quickly to the team’s tactical demands and professional standards.
Even with six league defeats — a rare occurrence for the club, which had not lost more than three games in a season for over a decade — setbacks never translated into frustration or indiscipline on or off the pitch.
Fair Play at the Top and Bottom
Champions Mighty Wanderers topped the fair-play standings, accumulating the fewest yellow cards (25) while picking one red card. They also impressed defensively, conceding a league-best 14 goals while scoring 51.
At the other end of the disciplinary chart, MAFCO FC recorded the highest number of cards with 65 yellow cards and three red cards. Fellow military side Kamuzu Barracks followed with 53 yellow cards and four red cards.
Relegated sides also featured prominently, with Mzuzu City Hammers collecting 50 yellow cards and three red cards, while Mighty Tigers ended the season with 45 yellow cards and four red cards.
Managing the Demands of a High-Intensity Season
The intensity of the league was reflected in the workload faced by match officials. Across the season, referees issued a total of 682 cards — 648 yellow and 34 red — highlighting how demanding the campaign was.
Lilongwe Centre referee Jimmy Phiri led the list for yellow cards issued, producing 49 yellow cards and two red cards in 11 matches. He was followed closely by Idrissah Matola, who issued 48 yellow cards and two red cards across 13 matches.
North-based referee Edson Chagala topped the red card list, issuing five red cards and 19 yellow cards in just eight matches. Easter Zimba officiated the highest number of games, taking charge of 16 matches over the season.
Discipline as a Statement
Against a backdrop of high tension, frequent cautions, and relentless competition, Bullets’ clean disciplinary record stands out. Finishing the season without a red card while pushing for the title was no coincidence.
It was the product of structure, leadership, and collective responsibility — proof that for The People’s Team, discipline remains a vital part of performance and a key competitive advantage.
