FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Kalisto Pasuwa says the secret to his team’s success has everything to do with the bond that he builds with his players.
The Zimbabwean said this after winning his fifth consecutive TNM Super League title with the Malawi champions on Sunday.
Bullets won the 2023 championship following a 1-all draw against Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium to finish top of the table with 60 points, three above the second-placed Central Bankers.
Pasuwa said a good relationship with players is of utmost importance for every coach’s success.
“It hasn’t been easy for me to win these titles. But one area is to have control of your dressing room. These players need a special bond with their head coach. You need to be closer to them. If I can tell you, I always visit all these players, I know where they live and I eat what they eat.
“So, when they are playing football, they play for you even if the going gets tough, they always give everything for you, and that has been the key secret,” he shared.
Describing the 2023 season as one of the toughest since he took charge of Bullets five years ago, Pasuwa shared his thoughts as to why the title race was very intense this campaign.
“The race was one of the closest ever since I came into this country, but it was influenced by how the fixtures were arranged. I have been saying that when you play in the CAF Champions League, it’s like a punishment.
“You are given fixtures without resting, yet your rivals are on bay, waiting to watch your downfall. We were in Karonga, where we got attacked, and I doubt if we were attacked by the home fans, I strongly believe that someone was behind those attacks because they never wanted to see us succeed. It’s not on. We can do better to avoid manipulation.
“We played four games away despite having so many injuries, so we need to go back and work on how these fixtures are arranged,” he commented.
Winning his second national silverware this season after defending the FDH Bank Cup in October, the Bullets head coach also revealed another reason why his team continues to dominate this season despite being hit by so many injuries.
“It’s how you plan at the start of the season by giving everyone a chance to play. Without rotation, we wouldn’t have been here. Every player contributed to this success despite getting so many injuries. We tried to make every player feel important, and we are here, so kudos to my players, we have defied all odds, and we have defended the title.”
Bullets remain with two competitions to wrap up the 2023 calendar the Airtel Top 8 and the Castel Challenge Cup, as Pasuwa eyes a quadruple this season.
The People’s Team are already in the final of the Airtel Top 8 having also reached the last-32 of the Castel Challenge Cup.
Fresh from retaining the TNM Super League, Pasuwa’s men will switch focus to Tuesday’s tie against non-league side Soche Socials in the Castel Cup at Kamuzu Stadium.
Victory will see Bullets booking a place in the last-16 of the competition and will face Civil Service United at home on Saturday.
