Bullets Reserve shot once to kill Lions as KB book a quarterfinal slot in FDH Bank Cup

After booting out tnm Super League giants Mighty Tigers in the round of 32 of the FDH Bank Cup, Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve have repeated their bravery on Sunday afternoon as they beat Red Lions to book their slot in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Chikumbutso Salima netted from the spot after Soldiers defender Charles Manondo was judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area. The goal was enough to take the junior people’s team to the next round of the competition.

Enos Chatama’s boys started the game brightly as they were attacking in numbers with brilliant touches and they were able to close down the Zomba based Soldiers in the own half. Chikumbutso was the most thorn in Lion’s forest.

After 20 minutes of dominance, Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve slowed their tempo and Red Lions took over the proceedings as former Mighty Wanderers midfielder, Mike Kaziputa was making brilliant deliveries but breaking the deadlock was the only problem.

At half-time, both teams made changes in their bid to find the winner as Red Lions pulled out Paul Kansungwi, Mike Kaziputa, and Patrick Rudi for Boniface Kaulesi, Andrew Biyo and Brown Gondwe respectively.

Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves pulled out Franklin Titani for Chrispin Mapemba.

Royal Bokosi saw his towering header hitting the up-right in the 55th minute of the game.

Chikoti Chirwa was introduced for Khumbo Gondwe to stop Bullets clever attackers Chikumbutso Salima and Emmanuel Savieli who were tormenting Lion’s defence.

The changes made no impact as after 90 minutes, Bullets sailed through the next round.

Coach for Bullets Reserve Enos Chatama heaped praise on to his charges for the performance and was very happy with victory.

“It was a good game. We started well and the boys were sticking to our instructions. We had many chances that we would have won the game with more goals but we missed,” said Chatama.

He added that he is still building a team after losing over 10 players to the senior team and some were released some months ago before the season started.

His counterpart, Charles Kamanga accepted the defeat saying his charges were not at their best.

Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve have become the fourth regional team to reach this year’s FDH Bank Cup quarterfinals as Extreme FC, Chitipa United and Changalume Barracks beat Kadona FC, Kawinga FC and Karonga United respectively to book their respective slots in the quarterfinals.

Elsewhere, Mathias Nyirenda’s 33rd minute strike was enough for Kamuzu Barracks to beat Civo Service United.

Coach for Kamuzu Barracks Charles Kamanga thanked his boys for the performance.

Charles Kamanga said, “We praise our boys for following our instructions. It was a tough game as Civo are also a big side. We told our boys to attack in number as the best way to defend our goal and they did it.”

Kamanga added that it is every coach’s wish to win the Cup and they will continue fighting for the trophy.

His counterpart, Franko Ndawa said lack of composure has costed them a game that they would have won.

“It’s very painful that we have lost the game. We missed many chances. We did all the aspects in training but they were not implemented in the game,” Franko Ndawa.

Three slots remain the complete the quarterfinals set and three teams among Nyasa Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers, Dedza Dynamos, Moyale Barracks, Ekwendeni Hammers and Blue Eagles will finish the set.

Blue Eagles will travel to Mzuzu to play Ekwendeni Hammers, Mighty Wanderers will visit Dedza Dynamons while Nyasa Big Bullets will be at home against Moyale thus weekend.

Silver Strikers who are the defending Champions foe the tournament were booted out in the Round of 32 by Dedza Dynamos.