FCB Nyasa Big Bullets are set to launch the 2025 TNM Super League campaign against Silver Strikers this Saturday afternoon at Bingu National Stadium.
Determined to avoid a repeat of consecutive opening-day draws from previous seasons, Bullets are eager to start strong and set the foundation for a successful season ahead.
As we gear up for the new campaign, here’s a recap of key highlights from our last five opening matches in the league.
Against Silver on Opening Day
Yes, we’ve faced Silver Strikers in an opening match before. Our latest encounter happened during the 2023 season when we traveled to Lilongwe to take on the Area 47 team at BNS. Lanjesi Nkhoma put us ahead in the first half, but Nickson Mwase leveled the score in the final half, ending the match in a 1-1 draw. Despite the stalemate, we went on to successfully defend the title in a season we claimed a quadruple.
League Opener Results
Over the last five opening matches of the TNM Super League, Bullets have secured two wins while drawing three times.
The victories came in 2019, when we dominated TN Stars 4-0 in Kasungu, and in 2022, when we edged Mighty Wanderers 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium.
Other recent opening-day results include a goalless draw against Blue Eagles in the 2020/21 season at Kamuzu Stadium, a 1-1 draw with Silver in 2023 at Bingu, and another 1-1 draw with Dedza Dynamos at Dedza Stadium last season.
While opening-day wins have been sporadic, The People’s Team has shown a knack for finishing strong. In the last five seasons, we’ve won four of our final games, cementing one of the league’s most impressive season-ending streaks.
Our final-day victories include triumphs in 2019 over TN Stars, in 2020/21 against Moyale Barracks, in 2022 over Civil Service United, and in 2024 against Kamuzu Barracks. The lone exception was a 1-1 draw with Silver on the last day of the 2023 season.
Bingu National Stadium Encounters
Bullets have only kicked off a TNM Super League season at Bingu National Stadium once—in 2023—when we let a first-half lead slip, drawing 1-1 with this Saturday’s opponents, Silver Strikers. Nevertheless, we went on to secure our fifth consecutive league title that year.
This weekend marks just our third league match at the venue, all coincidentally against Silver Strikers. Both previous encounters ended in stalemates.
Biggest Opening-Day Victory
Our most commanding opening-day performance came in 2019, when we crashed the relegated TN Stars 4-0 at Kasungu Stadium to begin the season in emphatic fashion.
Player Performances
Among the current squad, Mike Mkwate stands out, having played in more Super League openers for Bullets than anyone else—seven in total. He missed the 2021 and 2022 seasons while with Polokwane City and sat out the 2024 opener due to a long-term injury.
Goals on Opening Day
In the past five seasons, Bullets have netted eight goals in opening-day fixtures, while conceding just three. We’ve also managed two clean sheets, against TN Stars and Blue Eagles, respectively.
