FCB Nyasa Big Bullets first assistant coach Gilbert Chirwa hailed The People’s Team’s focus and discipline after a convincing 3-0 triumph over Mafco FC in the TNM Super League on Tuesday afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium.
Reflecting on the performance, Chirwa revealed that the players were encouraged to block out any distractions and give their full attention to the Mafco clash before shifting focus to the upcoming Blantyre Derby.
The result saw Maule open up a seven-point gap at the summit, underlining their dominance in the title race ahead of a defining week that includes Sunday’s Blantyre derby against Mighty Wanderers.
Staying Focused Before the Derby
Chirwa explained that the technical panel had urged the players to remain locked in on the Mafco fixture before thinking about their cross-town rivals.
“That was our plan today,” Chirwa said. “We told the boys to be serious and focus on Mafco FC before switching attention to the Blantyre derby because this match was equally important. The players approached it just as we trained — no divided attention, total commitment. Now that this one is done, we can shift focus to Sunday’s game.”
Satisfied With a Dominant Display
The former Bullets defender applauded the team’s attacking sharpness and defensive stability, which saw Hassan Kajoke bag a brace before Babatunde Adepoju sealed the victory in style.
“We are happy and very grateful to the boys for this win. They played well, scored three goals, and kept a clean sheet. In the second round, matches become tougher, but the team executed the mission perfectly as we continue pushing forward,” he added.
Confidence Ahead of the Derby
With the Blantyre derby just days away, Chirwa said Tuesday’s result injects confidence and belief into the squad ahead of another big test against their cross-town rivals.
“This win gives us a huge boost,” he noted. “Wanderers beat us 1-0 in the first round here at Kamuzu Stadium, so this is our chance to respond. It won’t be easy, but we believe it’s our turn to take the bragging rights.”
The victory lifted Bullets to 49 points from 20 matches, with Wanderers trailing on 42 points from 18 games. The Nomads visit Blue Eagles on Wednesday afternoon before facing Bullets in the first of two derbies within a week — the TNM Super League clash on Sunday, followed by the FDH Bank Cup semifinal on 1 November at Kamuzu Stadium.
