FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Wedson Nyirenda says his focus remains firmly on his team’s development despite Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Masters FC lifting The People’s Team to within a point of the FDH Bank Premiership summit.
Speaking to journalists after the match at Mpira Stadium, Nyirenda said his attention remains on the progress his side is making rather than the early-season standings.
Bullets climbed to third with 16 points from eight matches after Ephraim Kondowe’s second-half penalty secured back-to-back league victories.
The People’s Team now sit level on 16 points with second-placed Blue Eagles, while leaders Silver Strikers are just one point ahead.
Despite the encouraging position, Nyirenda insisted Bullets would not be distracted by the league table, with his focus remaining firmly on the team’s continued development.
“We are just taking one game at a time, and we are not even concerned with what others are doing. We are concerned about what we are doing, and what we are building together with the players and everyone at Bullets and we are looking forward to getting as many points as we can.”
While satisfied with the result, the Zambian believes there is still plenty of work to do if Bullets are to consistently perform at the standards expected of the club.
One area that continues to demand attention is his side’s finishing.
Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities and winning 14 corners against Masters, Bullets needed a second-half penalty to settle the contest.
“Like I have always said, from the day I arrived here, there will never be an easy game for this team because they set the bar very high and everyone will come for us. So, every other team that can lose 3-0, 5-0, but when they come to face Bullets, it is a different game.
“We created those chances because we are playing very well and the players are doing a very good job, but we have to deal with this problem. We know the problem is finishing. If we can get those clear-cut chances, and we keep on missing them, one day, we will be punished. So, we need to sort this out as soon as possible.”
For Nyirenda, improving the confidence of his attacking players is key, although he did not rule out looking elsewhere for solutions if required.
“First of all, you have to work with the players that we have. We have strikers here, and all we need is to work on their confidence in front of the goal, and if need be, we are going to look for a solution elsewhere.”
The Bullets coach also highlighted moments of defensive indiscipline during the closing stages.
He attributed those lapses to frustration stemming from the numerous chances his side failed to convert.
“That was a lack of discipline and loss of concentration in terms of organisation from our part due to the frustrations of missing those chances. When the action is upfront, we were not proactive at the back. So, only one mistake from the action area where the ball is, and when the other team puts the ball behind our back, we looked very vulnerable and we just have to work on that.”
Bullets return to Mpira Stadium on Saturday, where they will host Creck Sporting Club looking to extend both their unbeaten start to the league campaign and Nyirenda’s encouraging start in charge.
