FCB Nyasa Big Bullets concluded the 2024 TNM Super League campaign with a 1-0 win over Kamuzu Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Stanley Billiat’s deflected strike early in the opening half was enough to hand The People’s Team all three points, taking our tally to 55 and finishing third in the standings this term.
What happened
Kalisto Pasuwa made six changes to the side that beat Karonga United last Wednesday at the same venue.
Mathews Masamba was handed his first start of the campaign, with Frank Willard, Precious Phiri, and Richard Chimbamba also making a return in the starting lineup.
Kamuzu Barracks had a good start to the game as they won two set-pieces, which were all defended by the home side.
It only took eight minutes for Bullets to break the deadlock. Gomegzani Chirwa’s long ball from the back was headed by the visitors in their defensive zone and Maxwell Phodo’s well-chested control found Billiat, who moved three steps before unleashing an effort that was deflected into the top corner by Herbert Wayekha, beating goalkeeper Etcken Sibande who was out of his line, 1-0.
For the next minutes, Bullets had plenty of chances to score but kept misfiring.
In the 13th minute, the unmarked Babatunde Adepoju missed an opportunity to double our lead but his header went off target from close range.
Moments later, Phodo also squandered a chance. The attacker set his eyes on the goal, and he didn’t hesitate to shoot when Babatunde and Billiat were closer. Our no.30 blasted his effort way off Sibande’s goalposts.
34 minutes on the clock, Billiat sprinted towards the right flank. The winger should have waited to see if there was a teammate inside the penalty box, but he decided to send a cross, which was defended by Helbert Wayekha as there was no pressure from the hosts around the offensive box.
After these back-to-back misses, Bullets almost paid dearly in the 37th minute. Gregory Nachipo made a good run to the left side of the field before having a sight at the goal. The KB winger fired at goal to force Chimbamba to make his first serious save, and from the rebound, the shot-stopper rose to the occasion with another important save to deny Zinjani Yona from tapping in from close range.
With two minutes left to play before recess, Masamba did a brilliant job by finding Billiat to the far right, and the winger spotted Babatunde unmarked. Unfortunately, his heavy touch allowed Gift M’bwana to make a clearance.
And that was all for half, an opening period that saw Bullets creating plenty of goal-scoring chances, but only finding the back of the net once.
After the break, the hosts pressed from Billiat’s side, but a cross that was bound for Phodo was easily intercepted by M’bwana.
Charles Mhango’s side brought in Olson Kanjira for Sammy Chiponda to try to capitalise on their aerial abilities through their talisman.
But it was not his day as he was closely monitored by Nickson Nyasulu and Chrwa’s led back-four.
Billiat saw his rocket well blocked by Wayekha in the 54th minute for yet another set piece, which was cleared to safety by Micheal Mtonyo.
After the hour-mark, Phodo went for the ball to send his header over the crossbar when Nyasulu was the main target of Yamikani Mologeni’s cross from the right.
Pasuwa brought in Wongani Lungu and Chikumbutso Salima for Masamba and Phodo, a clear indication of an attacking intent from the tactician.
On their part, the visitors brought in Sammy Gunda and Humphreys Minandi for M’bwana and Gerald Chirwa.
The hosts had a chance to seal the win in the 71st minute when Salima played a brilliant corner kick that landed straight at Phiri, who fired at goal to force Sibande to make an excellent save.
Moments later, Babatunde saw his shot outside the penalty box cleared by Sibande for a set piece, which was easily handled by the shot-stopper.
With nine minutes to go, Bullets made three changes as we introduced Kenneth Pasuwa, Alick Lungu, and Lloyd Aaron for Mologeni, Billiat and Ernest Petro.
There were four opportunities for Bullets to pounce in the final minutes of the match.
Salima had a chance to bury the game in the 86th minute when he rounded off Wayekha before being denied by a brilliant block from Lloyd Mugala.
Moments later, Sibande produced a stunning save to deny Wongani Lungu from registering his first goal in Bullets’ colours.
The final two chances fell to Babatunde, who failed to tap in from close range from Salima’s excellent pass. The Nigerian forward then blasted his effort over the post. That was all for our final game of the league campaign; Bullets 1-0 Kamuzu Barracks.
What it means
Saturday afternoon’s result means The People’s Team have finished outside the top two of the league campaign for the first time since the 2013 season.
Bullets had a lacklustre performance in the first round of the season, recording four wins in the 15 opening matches.
Despite that tough start to our title defence, the 17-time league winners pushed themselves up the ladder to finish in the top three.
After 30 games, we have wrapped up the 2024 campaign with 55 points after registering 14 wins, 13 draws and three losses, scoring 42 goals and conceding 20.
Silver Strikers are champions after amassing 67 points, winning 19 games, drawing 10 and suffering just one loss. They scored 58 goals and conceded 17.
Our city neighbours, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers finished second in the standings with 58 points. They won 17 games, drew seven and lost six, scoring 57 goals and conceding 19.
Pasuwa post-match reaction
“A match that we missed so many chances. Like I always say, complacency in front of goals will cost you a game, but the good part of it is that we scored one, we managed to keep it until the end of the game, and we got the three points.
“It’s one of those [seasons] where you start slowly, and we had to pick in the second half of the season, and we ended up in the third position, and that’s what football is all about.”
Looking forward
Next for Pasuwa’s troops is a trip to Mzuzu to face Hilltop United in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.
