After a hard-fought 1-1 draw against second-placed Zingwangwa United at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves head coach Heston Munthali commended his squad’s determination in overturning a deficit to earn a vital point in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League.
The visitors struck first, seizing on a defensive error in the opening half. Although Prince Chalera missed a penalty early in the second half, substitute Movic Banda stepped up with a 75th-minute equalizer, preserving Bullets’ place atop the standings with 13 points from six matches.
Reflecting on the encounter, Coach Munthali recognized both the calibre of the opposition and the intensity of the occasion.
“Zingwangwa is a very good side. They are number two in the league and doing well. We knew they would come out strong, maybe trying to dislodge us from the top. We conceded an early goal from our own mistake, but I’m proud that the boys didn’t give up. We knew we would get chances, and eventually, we got one and took it,” he reflected on the early setback.
Munthali admitted that his side struggled to settle into their rhythm in the first half but credited tactical changes for shifting momentum in their favor: “We didn’t play our usual game at first, but after some changes, we began to play our way and found the equalizer. From there, we controlled the game much better.”
However, the coach wasn’t shy about pointing out areas for improvement.
“We were rushing, making quick decisions instead of staying calm, and that led to some mistakes. But overall, I have to praise my boys for a job well done. In football, you can win, lose, or draw, and today, it was a draw we’ll learn from.”
Looking ahead, Munthali emphasized the importance of using this point as a building block.
“This point will help us moving forward. But now we need to focus on correcting our mistakes when we return to training.”
With the title race heating up, the reserves remain in the driving seat, and Coach Munthali is confident that with continued hard work and focus, his side will maintain their momentum.
