Ruthless Bullets hammer Stars to send a statement on Super League Championship
By Antony Isaiah Jr
Midfielder, Patrick Mwaungulu, Anthony Mfune, Precious Sambani shined in a game that Nyasa Big Bullets hammered TN Stars by 8 goals to nill at Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday afternoon to send a statement to the teams that are contended for the Championship of the league.
The pacey attacker, Mwaungulu claimed a hat-trick of assists and a goal while Anthony Mfune scored a hat-trick to re-announce his arrival at the People’s team after missing for a time.
Nyasa Big Bullets got off to the perfect start as two goals in the opening 10 minutes against the struggling Stars set a raucous Ndirande rocking.
Anthony Mfune rose to powerfully head home Patrick Mwaungulu’s brilliantly curled corner kick in the 6th minute before Defender Precious Sambani doubled the lead for the people’s team after heading home another Mwaungulu’s delivery from the corner kick.
Midfielder, Ernest Petro thumped a long-range shot into the top corner leaving goalkeeper Noel Phiri without an option.
Newly signing, Frank Willard, Magombo and Mpokera combined well on the right flank before the latter made a sublime finish in the 31st minute.
Patrick Mwaungulu registered his hat-trick of assists when he teeid up Precious Sambani from the free kick and the full back made no mistake but to connect it home for the people’s team.
The Striker who was reportedly went missing after lacking game time, Anthony Mfune extended his tally to two just before Half-time before completing his hat-trick in the second half.
The prodigal son, Frank Willard who was signed back from Mafco FC lay off Patrick Mwaungulu for the Youngster to have his name on the scoresheet.
Rampant Reds Respond in Style
It has been suggested that Bullets have looked very lethargic and porous when playing at home after playing three games at Kamuzu without a win.
Draws against KB and Moyale Barracks being followed by a sluggish showing in the 3-3 disappointing stalemate led to questions being raised about the title winning of a Reds side that are being chased down by Blue Eagles. People were also worried about their Champions League fixture against Simba to be played in two weeks time.
Nyasa Big Bullets defence that was led by Kesten Simbi proved to be a rock for TN Stars’ Strikers, China Chirwa, Alfred Chizinga and Alexander Cosmas, keeping them at bay and restricting them to only three shorts on target in the entire 90 minutes.
The cleansheet will have relieved some tension for what would have been a nervous crowd after the side’s modest start to the second round this season.
TN Stars both goal-shy and leaky
TN Stars are looked to be heading to the Chipiku Central Region Football League as things are not on their side, they are one of the teams that have conceded more and scored less. They have managed to score only 16 goals and conceding 44 goals.
After realising that the defence is leaking, Coach for Stars pulled out Goalkeeper, Noel Phiri who had seen five goals go past him for Blackson Kotei in the 35th minute.
However, Bullets couldn’t stop scoring as three more goals were scored while the Captain, Kotei was there.
To add the fire power, Mtende Kaonga and Gift Songa were replaced Bismack Agyekum and Alfred Chizinga in the 58th minute but the new pairs of legs failed to break Bullets’ defence and they were kept rocked.
Squad Depth pays Bullets
Kalisto Pasuwa made five changes to the team that beat Chitipa United in the FDH Bank Cup Quarterfinals as Blessings Mpokera, Hassan Kajoke, and Thompson Magombo were thrown into the Starting XI for Babatunde Adepoju, Gomezgani Chirwa and Chimwemwe Idana. Petro and Patrick Mwaungulu were given the starting role for Henry Kabitchi and Precious Phiri.
Both Gomezgani Chirwa and Chimwemwe Idana played on Saturday for Malawi against Mozambique in the TotalEnergies African Championship and they were not fit to start the game.
Blessings Mpokera who is well known as a defending midfielder or Centre Half was deployed as the right back while the 19 year old Magombo carried Idana’s cross in the midfield.
Blessings Mpokera’s ability to run and make deadly crosses made Bullets not miss alot their pacey full back, Gomezgani Chirwa.
Carrying Idana’s role, Magombo registered his assist to Blessings Mpokera who hammered home his shot in the 30th minute.
Righteous Banda, Babatunde Adepoju, Mphatso Magaleta, Stanley Billiat and Eric Kaonga were given the time to play for Hassan Kajoke, Thompson Magombo, Anthony Mfune Patrick Mwaungulu.
Pasuwa thrilled with Kamuzu Stadium performance
The Coach for Nyasa Big Bullets, Kalisto Pasuwa said he was thrilled with the performance of his charges who were very dangerous offensively, managing to score eight goals for the first time after time.
He said that he decided to rest some players to avoid fatigue as the team have many games ahead in competitions like FDH Bank Cup, Airtel Top 8 Cup and Caf Champions League.
“Last time when we played here, we conceded many goals and we were playing with caution and we were also playing with balance.
“We gave travelling for many times going to Lilongwe, and we tried to give time to players who do not play regularly, and am happy with their performance, thumped up to them,” said Pasuwa.
Ken Ntuwa, team manager for TN Stars said the mindset of their players is not good.
“We have been conceding many goals in the first half and manage to up our games in the second half. We respected Bullets so much which is not accepted. Bullets are the team with Youthful players in Malawi, but we respected them too much,” said Ntuwa.
Nyasa Big Bullets have opened a 12-point gap over Blue Eagles who dropped points in Kasungu after a goalless draw against Civil Service United.
The people’s team have 52 points from 20 games while Blue Eagles have 40 in 19 games.
Elsewhere, Silver beat 10-man Red Lions by 2 goals to nill at Bingu National Stadium.
