Bullets ramble over Mighty Wanderers to book a all-Bullets final
By Antony Isaiah Jr
Nyasa Big Bullets have rambled over their fierce rivals, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the semifinals of the FDH Bank Cup played at Bingu National Stadium.
The peoples’ team registered a thick win over Nomads who were in jovial mood after playing five games without a defeat under the mentorship of Alex Ngwira.
Gomezgani Chirwa unlocked the scores in the first half before Hassan Kajoke, Anthony Mfune and Babatunde added in the second half.
Kalisto Pasuwa made six Changes from the team that lost to Simba Sporting Club in the 2022-23 TotalEnergies Caf Champions League as he threw in Chimwemwe Idana, Kesten Simbi, Frank Willard, Patrick Mwaungulu, Richard Chimbamba for Clever Mkungula, MacFarren Mgwira, Henry Kabitchi, Alick Lungu.
On the other hand, Alex Ngwira decided to hand a start to Adeleke Kalowole who has been missing due to injury and he paired up with Miracle Gabeya at the back.
Both teams started at an equal pace and with the same intensity as they were looking for an early opener to lull the opposite crowd.
A swift play from Yamikani Chester, Joseph Balakasi rewarded the Nomads with a free kick just outside the penalty box. Isaac Kaliati took the responsibility but he lifted the ball over both the war and the bar.
An attack of Simba’s quality was launched in the 24th minute as Mighty Wanderers lost possession from the offensive zone and Bullets won the ball through Chimwemwe Idana.
The maestro beats Chester before a sweet pass to Mwaungulu and the young man lifted the ball the danger man, Anthony Mfune who sweetly spotted Gomezgani Chirwa and the overlapping defender calmly nodded it home to send the Red stand of the Bingu Stadium into ruptures.
Again Mighty Wanderers were caught on transition as Patrick Mwaungulu won the ball in his half, he spotted Anthony Mfune who was between two defenders. The pacey forward chested the ball and laid it off to Hassan Kajoke who outsmarted Miracle Gabeya and he was stripped down and the referee pointed to the spot.
Hassan Kajoke took the responsibility and the number 9 sent the ball into the roof of the net, beating Richard Chipuwa who guessed the direction of the ball but with power of his shot, it was beyond Chipuwa’s reach.
Defensive debacles punished again the Nomads when Joseph Balakasi tried a back-pass but the power of the pass was too weak. Gomezgani won it before rounding the goalkeeper and he spotted Mfune who imperiously connected it home.
The Nigerian forward was introduced with only 10 minutes before the end of the game but he found himself on the scoresheet. A 20-meter run from Patrick Mwaungulu penetrating Wanderers’ defence paid off as he had a tricky pass to Babatunde who put it home, genius.
It was a game that Nyasa Big Bullets would have scored more than three goals as Richard Chipuwa was very alert and he had a busy afternoon.
Chimwemwe Idana, Frank Willard, Ernest Petro and Patrick Mwaungulu were controlling the proceedings as they were battling for supremacy against Yamikani Chester, Isaac Kaliati, Felix Zulu in the middle of the park.
On paper, it’s 4-3-3 for Bullets but on the ball, it’s 4-4-2. Patrick Mwaungulu playing a new role, he was dropping deep, squeezing himself into the midfield to equal the numbers with Nomads who were just numerous in the middle of the park.
That means, Kajoke and Mfune were playing interchangeably as the right forward and left forward.
Mfune was playing moreless like a number 9 but he was giving Gabeya and Adeleke tough time with his pace.
Mighty Wanderers were the first to invite Chimbamba for a save but it was a serious attack. Mkonda, Chester, Kaliati, Felix Zulu, Botomani are all parked in the midfield but there was no creativity.
Sulumba was a threat to Bullets’ defence and he had had two shots over the bar as he was operating from wings. He started on the left but he also switched to the right flank. Of those two goal attempts, one from the left and the other one from the right.
Miracle Gabeya and Adeleke Kalowole are not ball playing defenders, they are failing to move from the back, so too Sanudi is tied to his position, no overlaps.
To up the intensity and tempo of his game, Alex Ngwira introduced four players in the 60th minute, Vitumbiko Kumwenda, Chiukepo Msowoya, Wisdom Mpinganjira and Vincent Nyangulu replaced Joseph Balakasi, Muhamad Sulumba, Misheck Botomani and Felix Zulu.
The fluidity of the game in terms of attacking but John Lanjesi was the rock at the back in conjunction with his fellow brocks, Sambani, Gomezgani and Simbi.
Anthony who was named the man of the match, walked out of Mighty Wanderers’ forest of players before sending a missiles that Chipuwa parried away in frustration of the young man who was craving for a goal.
Newly signed player, Robin Ngalande was introduced for Isaac Kaliati in the 75th minute but he had nothing much to prove.
Nyasa Big Bullets will face their junior team, Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve who beat Extreme FC in the first semifinals.
Bullets continue dominance over Mighty Wanderers
Those Mighty Wanderers followers that started following the team from 2016 will need their grandparents, siblings to te them the last time their time recorded a win over Nyasa Big Bullets in a cup game.
The last time Nomads aet Bullets’ stake was in 2015 when they won the Carlsberg Cup but from their, in four meetings, Bullets have been emerging the winners, superior.
They beat Nomads in Carlsberg Cup in 2017, Airtel Top 8 Cup twice,in 2018 and 2021 and this is their fourth win over their arch rivals.
Ngwira tests his first defeat
Appointed to replace Eddington Ng’onamo, Alex Ngiwrs started his tenure in style recording three wins in five games and this record prompted their fans to nickname him Sir Alex Ferguson Ngwira, but his supremacy cannot walk over their fierce rivals.
Nyasa Big Bullets have not beaten Wanderers, but kill and bury them, and the defeat has come in sour style, losing four nill to neighbours is a scoreline that they will take time to forget.