For the second time in a row, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves have finished third in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League.
Enos Chatama’s boys finished the campaign with a 2-0 defeat against Ekhaya United at the Mpira Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
To settle what was the closing match of the league season, Bernado Mofolo struck in the first half before Christopher Chulu wrapped it up in the second half.
What happened
There was little on the price for both sides starting the tie. Ekhaya came into the match already crowned champions in their penultimate match while young Maule were already position three finishers.
For the opening 25 minutes, the two sides would go without a shot on target except Mofolo’s effort from just outside the area.
At the half-hour mark and following a more ambitious play, the visitors were in front scoring their first-ever goal against our reserves in four meetings.
Leading goal scorer in the league and wearing the armband on the day, Safton Chintokoma fashioned a chance for Mofolo to tap in from close range.
With five minutes to play before halftime, Chintokoma nearly doubled the visitors’ lead when he was found unmarked but he headed straight into the hands of our goalkeeper Austin Chirambo.
So, unlike the young Maule, they would finish the first half without a shot on target.
Eighteen minutes into the second half, The Cowboys doubled the lead. Chintokoma released Chulu who calmly took a touch and finessed the ball into the bottom corner to make it 0-2.
With nine minutes left to play, second-half substitute Hadji Steven had a chance to pull one back but squandered the glorious moment.
Thomas Gray, who had started from the bench, was then presented with another chance to extend the lead for Ekhaya but miserably squandered it.
There was a late resurgence for our youngsters but that was a little too late as the match would finish 0-2 in favour of The Cowboys.
What it means
Our youngsters have finished third in this campaign, after playing 35 matches, with Ekhaya earning promotion into the TNM Super League and Red Lions finishing as runners up.
This is the second time our reserves side finished third in a league campaign after years of dominance.
Chatama post Ekhaya United
“It was a good game. From the start, we did not do well. The body language of the boys was off, I do not know why. We changed things in the second half. All in all, the way we played today, we did not deserve to win. Let us congratulate Ekhaya, they are the champions of this season.”
Looking forward
That’s the end of the campaign for our youngsters who will now have a two-month off-season before their third attempt to reclaim the championship glory.
