FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Kalisto Pasuwa has provided his reaction as the defending champions registered the second defeat of the season in the TNM Super League.
The defending champions succumbed to a 1-0 defeat away to Dedza Dynamos on Thursday afternoon to remain winless in four matches after recording three consecutive draws before the loss on Thursday.
Dedza scored in the first minute to hand Pasuwa’s men another frustrating afternoon as they blew the title race wide open after Silver Strikers moved second in the standings following a 2-1 win over Kamuzu Barracks and Mighty Wanderers dropped to third after a goalless stalemate with Mighty Tigers.
The Zimbabwean told journalists after the final whistle that he would only think about who would win the title on the final day of the campaign.
“In football whatever we are going through is normal and that’s why I have been talking about this throughout the season that I will only talk about the championship on the final day.
“We have been playing so many games, and we have been putting too much pressure on the players, especially the youngsters who couldn’t handle it. It’s a learning phase in which they need to soldier on and focus on the next assignment,” he commented.
On his team’s failure to win a game in the last four matches, the Pasuwa admitted it was a concern, but can’t ask for too much from the players due to the number of games they have played this season.
“It’s a concern, but we have played so many games, and I can’t ask for more [from the boys]. They have given it all. It happens. We need to move on from this defeat and focus on our next assignment,” he pointed out.
Pasuwa went on to comment on the officiating, saying: “I can’t finish without talking about the poor officiation from the referees. The freekick we conceded, which resulted in the goal, wasn’t a freekick at all because it was Sambani and Phiri colliding, but he awarded Dedza Dynamos the set piece that landed into our net.”
“Then again, Alick Lungu and Khumbo Banda exchanged blows. He only flashed his yellow card on Lungu and spared the other player. Where have you seen this happening? He [referee Kondwani Kamwendo] influenced the result, and this is not the type of officiation that we want in the top-flight league,” he voiced out his concern.
On the overall performance of his team, the gaffer said: “It was a balanced affair, but the only difference was their early goal which they scored and we couldn’t rise to the occasion”.
Next on the menu for The People’s Team is the Airtel Top 8 semifinal match against Blue Eagles at Bingu National Stadium on Sunday, before proceeding to the North to face Karonga United on Thursday next week.
The defeat means Bullets are level on points with Silver Strikers but Pasuwa’s side leads the table with a superior goal difference over the Central Bankers.
