Heston Munthali says he is pleased with how his FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves squad is growing, making steady progress in his debut season after taking over the reins at the start of the campaign.
The former Bullets forward shared this following Thursday’s 4–1 win over Immigration FC at Kamuzu Stadium in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League.
Bullets Reserves underwent significant changes at the start of the season, including integrating new talent and seeing several players move on to TNM Super League clubs or earn promotion to the first team.
The midweek victory lifted Bullets Reserves into third place on the table. Munthali’s boys created several clear-cut opportunities in the first half, testing the Immigration defence with crosses and shots, but could not find the back of the net.
The breakthrough came in the second half, with four goals from substitute Kondwani Tebulo, Movic Banda, Vincent Kampira, and captain Oscar Petro to Bullets to 52 points—one ahead of Mighty Wanderers Reserves and four behind leaders Ekhaya Reserves.
A Strong Platform Despite a Goalless First Half
Munthali felt his team executed the game plan well from the opening exchanges, controlling possession and dictating the tempo, even though their dominance was not immediately reflected on the scoreboard.
“First of all, I want to congratulate the boys on the win,” Munthali said. “In the first half, we played really well and controlled the game. We created several chances but weren’t able to convert them.”
Bullets Reserves spent long periods in the opposition half, combining patiently through the wings and central play, creating multiple openings. The team’s composure and tactical awareness, Munthali believes, reflect the growing understanding within his young squad.
Tebulo Sparks the Breakthrough
The introduction of Kondwani Tebulo at halftime proved decisive. His movement, energy, and composure unlocked Immigration’s defence and set the tone for a second-half surge.
“After making substitutions, we found the breakthrough through Tebulo and continued to control the midfield,” Munthali said.
The second-half goals were a product of improved decision-making and composure, as the players applied lessons from the first half and translated control into clear scoring opportunities.
Development Remains Central
While pleased with the overall performance, Munthali highlighted learning moments, including the goal conceded late in the game.
“We did concede a goal towards the end, which is something we could have defended better, but that’s football,” he said.
The Reserves’ performance underlines Munthali’s philosophy: developing young players through experience, giving them the confidence to learn from mistakes and grow into key contributors.
One Game at a Time
With the season entering its decisive phase, Munthali insists the focus remains on continued improvement rather than just results.
“We are taking things one game at a time. We will go back to training, work on the mistakes we made today, and prepare for our next match against Chilomoni FC,” he said.
“The squad is still learning and developing, and I am pleased with how they are responding and improving.”
Bullets Reserves return to action on Monday against Chilomoni FC, aiming to build on their progress and maintain momentum as the ThumbsUp SRFL campaign approaches its conclusion.
