Kalisto Pasuwa admitted he knew Dedza Dynamos would come to Kamuzu Stadium with confidence and had to do some homework for FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to sail through to the FDH Bank Cup final.
Collins Okumu opened the scoring two minutes into the first half, before Hassan Kajoke, Anthony Mfune (brace) and MacFallen Mgwira did more damage in the second half to dump the visitors out of the national competition.
In his post-match reaction, the Bullets head coach revealed he was much aware the rookies would come looking for a result after The People’s Team had to come from behind to force a 2-2 draw when we met in the TNM Super League at home on 15 July.
“[It was] a very good game from my boys. We did a lot of homework after they frustrated us in the league because I knew they would come here with confidence,” Pasuwa told journalists.
He further reacted: “Even though we struggled a bit in the first half, individual brilliance from my players who were eager to score goals and to take the team into the final and yes, it worked, we are through.”
For the first time this season, Bullets created more goal-scoring opportunities and should have had more goals in the first half if they had been clinical enough in front of the southern goal at the Soccer Mecca.
Pasuwa made four changes to the side that beat Mighty Tigers in the Super League on Thursday, handing Nigerian forward Chinedu Okafor his first start in a competitive match this season, with Clyde Senaji who missed the previous fixture, Righteous Banda and Anthony Mfune also finding their way in the starting XI.
“We have been struggling to play our usual game due to fatigue and as you can see, we tried to rotate the team today by using some fresh legs and you could see a change of pace in terms of how they were playing.
“And when we brought the substitutes in the second half, they came out good with high intensity hence scoring more goals to record a comfortable win,” explained the Zimbabwean.
In the final, Bullets will face Mafco FC on 8 October at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe and commenting on the tie, the tactician anticipates a tough cup final against the Salima-based military side that overcame Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the first semi-final match a week ago.
“We are meeting a very good side which gives us torrid time and we need to do our homework for us to defend this cup. It will not be easy, but we just need to do it at all costs.”
The FDH Bank Cup final will be played after Bullets’ trip away to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the return match of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round against TP Mazembe on Saturday.
Pasuwa’s men were scheduled to face Bangwe All Stars in the Super League this Wednesday but the game has been postponed and The People’s Team will now be focusing on the trip to face The Ravens in our quest to reach the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
We travel to the DRC with a one-goal disadvantage after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the Bingu National Stadium last Sunday.
