FCB Nyasa Big Bullets vice-captain Lloyd Aaron expressed his disappointment after the team’s goalless draw against Creck Sporting Club in the first leg of the Airtel Top 8 Cup quarterfinals, noting that his Player of the Match accolade holds little value if he cannot help the team achieve crucial results.
The 26-year-old midfielder was a commanding presence in the middle of the park, dictating the game’s tempo and making crucial interceptions to stifle the opposition in what was one of our most dominant displays on the domestic stage.
Following the match, Aaron, stepping in as captain in the absence of first-choice leader Clyde Senaji, acknowledged his pride in receiving the accolade, but admitted his frustration over the team’s inability to turn their performance into a favourable outcome.
He said: “I’m honoured to have been named Player of the Match, but I feel it’s not enough because an award like this should drive the team toward a decisive victory, which I couldn’t deliver this time. That’s just how football goes, though, and we’re already focused on the next game, where we’ll give everything to secure a win”.
The Malawi midfielder expressed that Bullets needed to put in extra effort to secure a victory against a highly defensive opponent.
“We should have done more because, right from the start, it was clear they had set out to frustrate us with a draw. We needed to push harder to break their plan and get the result we wanted. Unfortunately, their strategy worked, and they succeeded in holding us to a draw. It’s painful, but we have to move on, regroup, and focus on the upcoming matches because winning is crucial.”
Although the first leg ended in a goalless stalemate, Aaron remains optimistic, emphasizing the importance of addressing their weaknesses and turning the tide in the second leg, set to take place later this month.
“All is not lost. A 0-0 draw still leaves everything to play for in the second leg in two weeks. Our job now is to work on our shortcomings and aim for a win on their home turf. They managed to frustrate us here, why can’t we frustrate them there? A goalless draw keeps the outcome wide open. Now, we need to shift our focus to Wednesday’s [TNM Super League] game and get the points we need. This match is behind us, and the next one matters even more.”
This marks Aaron’s first POTM recognition in the Airtel Top 8 since he joined us from Civil Sporting Club at the beginning of last season.
Bullets will face the same opposition in the league this Wednesday at the same venue.
