On Monday afternoon, Bullets Reserves made an impressive comeback by defeating Ntopwa 4-1 in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League at Kamuzu Stadium.
Head coach Heston Munthali praised his team’s performance, highlighting their positive reaction after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Ekhaya Reserves.
Prince Chalera broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark and later found the net again in the second period. Francis Malikebu and Enos Hendeman also got on the scoresheet, helping secure Bullets Reserves’ fourth win of the season.
“We’ve triumphed 4-1 against Ntopwa, and I’m extremely pleased with the boys’ response. Their reaction today was truly encouraging. After losing to Ekhaya last weekend, we told the boys to move on and focus on the next challenge. This was a fresh match, and our message was clear: start strong and look for early goals,” Munthali said.
Although Bullets pushed for an opener from the outset, they were initially wasteful in front of goal and only managed to take the lead in the 31st minute.
“We worked hard to score in the first half but squandered several opportunities,” Munthali reflected. “At halftime, we regrouped, and the players returned with renewed focus. That first goal settled us and allowed us to dictate the pace.”
The former Bullets forward was especially happy with how the team maintained their performance in the second half.
“In the second half, we picked up right where we left off. The boys kept pushing forward, created a host of chances, and ultimately found the goals we needed. When you’re coming off a loss, it can impact confidence and rhythm, but the boys showed tremendous character, and we’re really proud of their response.”
Looking ahead, Munthali insisted that his squad will stay grounded and continue striving for improvement.
“We approach each fixture one at a time. We’ll go back to training, address our errors, and continue building. With every match, the boys are progressing, and their effort deserves recognition. This commitment must remain because we still have many crucial games to play.”
Having regained momentum and strengthened team spirit, the team now aim to carry this form into their next encounter. With 12 goals scored and only four conceded in five outings, Bullets Reserves currently top the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League table with 12 points.
