Following Bullets’ 2-1 loss to Civil Service United, head coach Peter Mponda admitted his side failed to match the intensity and tactical discipline of their opponents.
The result marked The People’s Team’s second defeat of the 2025 TNM Super League season and ended their longest unbeaten league run against a Lilongwe-based opponent.
Mponda conceded that Bullets were second best on the day and lacked the edge to claim a result.
“We didn’t do much to fight for points, unlike Civil, who did well to win the match. Our opponents were tactically good. When we equalised, we were too relaxed, and in the end, we conceded from a set piece. So congratulations to them—they deserved the points,” he said.
Despite the setback, the Bullets boss dismissed suggestions that the result could have a major bearing on the title race.
“We can’t say this result will decide the direction of where the league is going. It’s still early. We have more games to play, and when the season started, we never said we would go unbeaten. Some painful results are part of the process, but what matters is how quickly we learn and improve,” Mponda added.
Looking ahead to the Airtel Top 8 Cup final against Silver Strikers next Sunday at Bingu National Stadium, the tactician expressed confidence that his side will bounce back.
“We’ll go back to training and work on the mistakes we encountered today. Our focus now shifts to the final, and we’ll do whatever it takes to win it. The players have worked hard to reach this stage, and I believe they are motivated. They will move on from this loss and give everything against Silver,” he concluded.
Despite Saturday’s defeat, Bullets remain top of the TNM Super League standings with 27 points, one ahead of second-placed Mighty Wanderers, who face Ekhaya FC on Sunday.
