FCB Nyasa Big Bullets had a remarkable run in May as we rose to the top of the TNM Super League standings.
The defending champions registered three wins and a draw from the four matches played this month coming to a close this week.
Bullets, the highest-scoring team in the league this far, found the back of the net ten goals and conceded two, with several players recognized with individual accolades, to sum up a successful month.
Let’s take a look at how The People’s Team performed ahead of another hectic new month as we strive to defend the TNM Super League title.
Bullets 3-1 Moyale Barracks
The People’s Team began the month of May with a home game against Moyale Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium on 5 May.
With Bullets unbeaten at home for more than a season, it was indeed an opportunity to maintain our perfect home run when Lanjesi Nkhoma opened the scoring early in the 5th minute after he was set up by Patrick Mwaungulu.
Hassan Kajoke then doubled our lead with a beautiful finish from Nkhoma’s through-ball to take a 2-0 half-time lead.
In the second half, Anthony Mfune completed the riot with a simple tap in when he was set through by Nkhoma.
Raphael Phiri reduced the arrears for the Lions of Kaning’ina but it was too late as Maule walked away with all the points.
The victory saw the defending champions leapfrogging Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at the top, and that was the beginning of a remarkable journey as Kalisto Pasuwa’s charges maintained their grip at the summit to date.
Bangwe All Stars 0-2 Bullets
The log leaders continued their perfect start to the month when they defeated Bangwe All Stars 2-0 away at Mpira Stadium.
It was a match that lived up to its billing, and Bullets used the experience to get all the points when Lanjesi Nkhoma scored two quick goals in the first half to inspire us to yet another important win.
After the victory, the team left for Lilongwe to face Silver Strikers as part of the Kamuzu Day celebrations at Civo Stadium.
Pasuwa, who made wholesome changes to his squad, saw his charges beat the Central Bankers 1-0 courtesy of a second-half strike from Henry Kabichi. The People’s Team added another trophy to their cabinet following that win over Pieter De Jhong’s side.
Civil Service United 1-1 Bullets
Next on the menu was another trip to the Capital City to play Civil Service United. As expected, it was a tough match in which the hosts dominated the first half and deservedly took an early lead through Binwell Katinji. Bullets kept chasing for the equalizer but failed to hit the back of the net and trailed at the break.
In the second half, it only took less than one minute for Bullets to level. Patrick Mwaungulu was set up by Ernest Petro to release a ferocious shot that was just too much for Tione Tembo to stop. The match ended 1-1.
The result meant Bullets returned to the top of the standings with 14 points, level on points with Wanderers, but the log leaders had a superior goal difference.
Bullets 4-0 Red Lions
The People’s Team showed no mercy to the struggling visitors, hammering the Lions of Zomba 4-0 through Lanjesi Nkhoma, Anthony Mfune, Stanley Billiat and Precious Sambani’s strikes.
It was a game that was mostly dominated by Bullets as we created a lot of goal-scoring opportunities, especially in the first half.
Three goals were also denied by the first and second assistant referees for offsides.
The first half ended 1-0, but it was not a true reflection of the game as Bullets missed plenty of chances.
In the second half, with 20 minutes left to play, the hosts scored three more goals to win convincingly and opened a two-point lead over the second-placed Silver Strikers, who defeated Bangwe All Stars 4-1 on the same afternoon to send Wanderers to third position.
The People’s Team will go into the new month of June at the top of the summit with 17 points from seven games as we remain unbeaten.
Individual accolades
Two of our players bagged Man of the Match awards following their brilliant displays in different matches. However, it was Nkhoma who scooped two back-to-back awards when he was voted the Farmers Organization Limited MOM against Moyale, in which he had a goal and two assists.
A week later, the Bullets Reserves product was also named MOM when he scored two goals against Bangwe.
His perfect start to the season has seen him leading the scorer’s chart with seven goals and has three assists to his name.
Clyde Senaji is another player who was awarded a Man of the Match accolade on Sunday after he helped The People’s Team keep the second clean sheet of the month.
In the entire 90 minutes, the visitors only registered two shots at goal, indicating how solid the back four was. This was our Kenyan defender’s first Man of the Match award in five games he has featured for The People’s Team this campaign.
Clean sheets
Richard Chimbamba has kept four clean sheets in seven games, two of them coming in May. The shot-stopper has only conceded three goals in seven starts.
He is regular in Pasuwa’s first eleven.
On Sunday, he produced two stunning saves to deny James Mwetse and Davie Major from scoring. He has been very outstanding with excellent saves since the start of the new campaign.
Assists
Lanjesi Nkhoma is one of the leading players with more assists in the competition. The 25-year-old attacker has been phenomenal at scoring goals and setting up his teammates for goals.
Nkhoma has four assists to his name, seconded by Maxwell Phodo, who has three.
Next challenge
Up next for Pasuwa’s charges is a trip up north where Chitipa United awaits at Karonga Stadium. It will be our fifth fixture away from home and our first travel to the Northern Region this season.
