FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Wedson Nyirenda is encouraged by the attacking progress his side is making after registering 16 attempts in Sunday’s 2-0 FDH Bank Premiership victory over Chitipa United at Mpira Stadium.
The People’s Team controlled long periods of the contest and struck the woodwork three times before Blessings Mpokera converted an 80th-minute penalty and Clever Kalambo doubled the advantage two minutes later.
Reflecting on the performance after the final whistle at Mpira Stadium, Nyirenda took encouragement from the attacking football his charges produced, insisting the final scoreline did not fully reflect their dominance.
“The scoreline does not reflect what was on the pitch today. I think on a normal day, that would have been eight or nine goals from us. But I think we should also give credit to our opponents who were very organised and played a very good game.
“They looked more organised, the way they were defending, and they also had dangerous counter-attacks that they were using. So, today, we were on our toes and the only thing that we did not do was to bury all those chances.”
Beyond the volume of opportunities, Nyirenda was particularly encouraged by the way Bullets repeatedly found spaces behind Chitipa’s defensive line.
“The most important thing is that we are able to create these chances. We are playing well. We are slotting most balls behind the defenders and it’s looking good. If we convert these chances into goals, then we are good to go.”
Wongani Lungu and Kalambo were both denied by the woodwork in the first half, while Kondwani Tebulo also struck the post in stoppage time on his competitive first-team debut.
For Nyirenda, those attacking sequences offer further evidence that The People’s Team are developing a greater threat in the final third.
“This means the team is creating chances. It means the team is attacking and if we are not missing these chances, then other teams should have something to worry about.
“It’s good that we are able to create these chances and it’s just a matter of time that things will start working out in our favour.”
The head coach, however, acknowledged that converting more of those opportunities remains the next step as Bullets look to build on Sunday’s performance.
“I think we need to work more on it so that we can be getting the goals because we are creating more opportunities but we can’t score more. We need to sort this problem as soon as possible.”
The victory moved Bullets to 23 points from 12 matches, level with third-placed Mighty Wanderers and two behind Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles.
The People’s Team now turn their attention to Sunday’s trip to Karonga Stadium to face Karonga United in the FDH Bank Premiership.
