FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Kalisto Pasuwa believes Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Mighty Mukuru Wanderers will rejuvenate the defending champions, who are struggling in the league.
Bullets defeated their rivals to maintain a 100 per cent winning record in cup games and book a place in the FDH Bank Cup quarterfinals.
The 2023 quadruple winners have had a tough start to their league title defence with only four wins, eight draws and two defeats, the latest being a 2-1 loss away to Karonga United last week.
But on Sunday, Pasuwa’s men pounced on their neighbours to claim the Blantyre city bragging rights through Babatunde Adepoju’s first-half brace that inspired The People’s Team to a quarter-final showdown against Civil Service United, scheduled to be played at Kamuzu Stadium next Sunday.
Pasuwa told journalists in his post-match interview that all his boys needed was that important win against the Nomads to keep their season going.
“I think the win can make the boys raise their heads. If you could see whenever we were losing games, the dressing room was like we were at a funeral,” commented the Zimbabwean.
“Of course, these are two different competitions because this was a cup game and we are struggling in the league and the approach is also different. However, mindset-wise it’s a motivation for them to go and win games in the league,” he added.
Pasuwa dismissed the assumption that his team would now be the favourites to win the FDH Bank Cup after Silver Strikers and Wanderers exited the competition.
“No advantage at all. I can’t say so. If Silver Strikers were booted out of the competition by Blue Eagles, it means we can also be beaten by any team that we are facing. We need to prepare well for us to go to the next round,” he responded.
He also paid a special tribute to the club management which continues motivating the players as the team is passing through a tough period.
“The management came yesterday to motivate the players and you could see the anger and hunger to win this game.”
Providing his analysis of the match, the tactician said: “This is not the Bullets that we know. We got the two goals and we played too deep to defend and ended up inviting pressure from the opposition.
“But this was a cup game and all we wanted was to go to the next round, something which we did. I am happy for the boys; they needed this win to keep their hopes of a better season high.”
This was the second time for Bullets to eliminate Wanderers from the FDH Bank Cup, having beaten them 4-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 edition.
The result means Bullets will play in the quarterfinals of this competition for a fourth straight year, having reached the first quarterfinal in 2021 before losing to Silver Strikers.
The defending champions won the cup in 2022 and 2023, having beaten Bullets Reserves and Mafco FC, respectively.
