The young Bullets were held to a goalless draw by leaders Ekhaya Youth at Kamuzu Stadium on Monday in the FCB Katswiri Under-19 League.
Yamikani Fodya’s side carried a sustained attacking threat for spells of the contest, with Ekhaya goalkeeper Albert Lupiye producing a series of interventions to keep the hosts out during a strong finish to the opening half.
Captain Hassan Madula then had an effort ruled out shortly after the restart before passing up another promising opening as Bullets continued to search for the breakthrough, but neither side could find a decisive touch across the 80 minutes.
Lupiye stands firm as Bullets press
The contest opened at a good tempo, with both teams looking to impose themselves and neither side afforded much time in possession.
Blessings Masamba was shown the first yellow card of the afternoon in the sixth minute following a foul.
Bullets gradually began to find space going forward and threatened in the 19th minute when Alex Kalulu threaded a pass through the Ekhaya defence towards Chawanangwa Mhango, only for the forward to be flagged offside.
Joel Maziya had the chance to apply further pressure from a corner two minutes later, but his delivery went straight out of play.
Ekhaya began to find their rhythm midway through the half and registered a sight of goal in the 28th minute when Vincent Thomson tried his luck from distance, sending his effort wide.
Bullets responded two minutes later after winning a free-kick, with Maziya stepping up but seeing his attempt comfortably gathered by Lupiye.
Fodya’s side then produced their most threatening spell of the opening half.
Gomezgani Maziya forced Lupiye into action in the 33rd minute, with the goalkeeper punching away the initial effort before recovering to deny Masamba’s follow-up.
Lupiye was required again two minutes later as Bullets maintained the pressure, producing another important save to preserve the deadlock.
The young Bullets continued to ask questions of the Ekhaya defence, but the breakthrough did not arrive and the sides went into the interval level after the opening 40 minutes.
Madula denied after the restart
Fodya made a double change at half-time, introducing Mike Kalanda and Misheck Bekka for Masamba and Mhango.
Ekhaya also reshuffled at the restart, with Maxwell Simfukwe and Depay Banda replacing Collings Pearson and Mphatso Julius.
Bullets thought they had taken the lead four minutes into the second half when Madula rounded Lupiye and finished, but the effort was ruled out after the referee penalised the Bullets captain for a foul.
Madula had another excellent opportunity five minutes later after breaking forward from outside the penalty area.
The captain drove into the box with support available around him but elected to go for goal and sent his effort over the crossbar.
Bullets continued to find promising positions and Osman George opened up the Ekhaya defence with an incisive pass in the 52nd minute, only for Lupiye to read the danger quickly and come off his line to intervene.
The young Cowboys responded through Madalitso Singini two minutes later, but his effort travelled wide of Hassan Assima’s goal.
Assima was called into more serious action in the 56th minute after Ekhaya threatened from a corner, with the Bullets goalkeeper producing a fine save to keep the contest level.
Ekhaya made another double change three minutes later, introducing Precious Movic and Hope Mustafa for Singini and Thomson.
Fodya responded in the 63rd minute by sending on Vincent Moyo for George as Bullets looked to inject fresh impetus into their attack.
Four minutes later, Gomezgani Maziya delivered from a corner and Esau Kumwenda met the ball, but his effort went wide of the target.
Kalanda had another opening in the 73rd minute after winning possession high up the pitch. Madula was available in support, but the substitute opted to go for goal and dragged his attempt wide.
Ekhaya earned a corner with five minutes remaining, but the Bullets defence stood firm and cleared the danger as the contest entered its closing stages.
The final opportunity arrived in the 80th minute when Bullets were awarded a free-kick near the centre circle.
Gomezgani Maziya took on the ambitious long-range attempt, but his effort sailed over the crossbar with what proved to be the final kick of the match.
The result keeps Ekhaya Youth at the top of the standings with 20 points from eight matches.
Bullets Under-19 remain second with 17 points from seven games, three behind the leaders with a match in hand, while Mighty Wanderers Youth are a point further back in third having also played seven matches.
Fodya calls for greater composure
Fodya was encouraged by his side’s performance against the league leaders, particularly the way the young Bullets competed and created openings, but said greater composure in the final third remains an area for improvement.
“It was a tough game, but I thought we played some very good football. The boys performed well and there were a lot of positives in our game. Now we have to go back to training, correct the areas where we fell short and continue building on what we did well.”
The Bullets coach believes his players are continuing to develop within the team’s playing principles, with their decision-making in front of goal now requiring further work.
“These are young players and they are learning quickly. They are responding well to what we are asking of them, but we still need to improve our composure in front of goal. When the chances come, we have to make better decisions and be more clinical.”
Fodya was also encouraged by the progress his side continues to make defensively after another clean sheet.
“Defensively, we are improving. The players are beginning to understand their responsibilities better and we are becoming more organised without the ball. That is part of their development because we want them to keep improving in every aspect of the game.”
With the Ekhaya contest behind them, the coach said the focus would quickly move towards the next challenge.
“This game is finished now. We have to take the lessons from it, get back on the training pitch and prepare properly for the next assignment. There is a lot of potential in this group and we have to keep working with them.”
Bullets Under-19 XI
23 Hassan Assima; 75 Alex Kalulu, 88 Joel Maziya, 76 Emmanuel Mapundi, 82 Gomezgani Maziya, 89 Ahmad Ayami; 81 Hassan Madula, 83 Blessings Masamba (87 Mike Kalanda 41′), 94 Esau Kumwenda, 77 Osman George (Vincent Moyo 63′); 90 Chawanangwa Mhango (85 Misheck Bekka 41′).
Substitutes Not Used
16 Charles Chalaka, 78 Timothy George, 93 Prince Jamali, 95 Dickson Kameza, 84 Samuel Mpinda, 92 Willy Demakube, 80 Thole Sachenja.
Ekhaya Youth XI
84 Albert Lupiye; 12 James Kimu, 51 McDonald Banda, 97 Goodson Bende, 71 McDonald Bonongwe; 87 Chisomo Paika, 82 Vincent Thomson (92 Hope Mustafa 59′), 67 Francis Chisambi, 39 Mphatso Julius (22 Depay Banda 41′); 93 Madalitso Singini (89 Precious Movic 59′), 43 Collings Pearson (100 Maxwell Simfukwe 41′).
Substitutes Not Used
30 Joseph Maphedi, 94 Vincent Kumanda, 56 Razak John, 83 Andrew Khombe, 81 Andrew Wisiki.
Match Statistics
Goals
None.
Bookings
Bullets Under-19: Blessings Masamba.
Match Details
Fixture: Bullets Under-19 vs Ekhaya Youth
Competition: Blantyre District Football Committee Under-19 FCB Katswiri League
Date: 24 August 2026
Venue: Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre
Result: Bullets 0-0 Ekhaya Youth
