Lanjesi proves his worthy as CF Nampula hold Bullets

By Antony Isaiah Jr……..

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets armband holder, John Lanjesi displayed a splendid performance in Kalisto Pasuwa’s barren draw against Moçambola Liga side, Feroviaro De Nampula.

Lanjesi was named in the heart of defence, playing as a left centre back with Nixon Nyasulu playing on his opposite side.

Despite suffering several injuries, John Lanjesi always delivers when he is fit, especially during big games.

Calling him a big game player cannot be a problem as the 2015 TNM Super League best defender suits in that category.

The People’s Team coughed around K4 Million for the centre-half back in 2016 but injury have been impeding him from hitting his expected level as he has been missing several games.

He joined the Club together with Emmanuel Zoya who was released later but he is still surviving at the Club and the Captain obviously has been answering the question why Pasuwa keeps him.

The People’s Team Head Coach, Kalisto Pasuwa one time expressed his worries on his defender saying with him fit, his defensive line looks stable.

“John Lanjesi is a good defender, with good height but only injuries disturb him,” said Pasuwa last season.

Scooping the best defender and best player in 2019 was not by lottery, Lanjesi was a rock at the back today when a much-changed Nyasa Big Bullets were held to a barren draw against CF Nampula.

His leadership help the people’s team to keep the free-flowing Nampula at bay and his confidence was something to admire.

The most important attributes a centre back should possess are awareness and positioning. By knowing where to be at all times, Lanjesi ensured no opposition player had time or space to take a shot at a goal or assist other teammates and the visitors registered no shot on target.

The Captain hardly ever make a sliding tackle, he only achieved this by having a strong ability to read the game. So sliding tackles are only their last- resort to stop players. CF Nampula had utilised Erik Kaonga’s side but Lanjesi was very quick to close the spaces.

Despite being not that tall, Lanjesi could manage to win the aerial ball as he was intercepting the crosses made by the visitors in the game.

Since he joined the Club back in 2016, Lanjesi has helped the team to win TNM Super League four times, Presidential Cup, Carlsberg Cup, FDH Bank Cup, Airtel Top-8 Cup, and Charity Shield four times. His fellow players faced a chop from the Club but still survives.

Lanjesi is expected to lead the defence again tomorrow as FCB Nyasa Bullets face their arch rivals, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers who have suffered a 2-0 defeat to Moçambola Liga Champions, UD Songo.

This contest was always going to come down to the battle between former Civil Service United defender, Bashir Maunde and former Silver Strikers devastating attacker, Maxwell Phodo.

Maunde sealed the move to Ferroviario De Nampula but shined on his return to face his former bosses as he pocketed Phodo with his experience.

The visitors had few chances in the first half but testing the goalkeeper reflexes was a problem.

Their profligacy nearly harmed them when Blessings Mpokera switched the play from the left side twice to Stanley Billiati who saw his first cross connected by Yankho Singo but it went over the bar before setting up Phodo who saw his goal-bound being tipped over the by Ferroviario De Nampula’s goalkeeper, Edson.

Telinho failed to hit the roof of the net with the goal gapping only to be denied by John Lanjesi and Rabson Chiyenda.

Pasuwa made overhaul changes in the second-half as he gave the game time to new faces, Clyde Senaji, Chinedu Okafori and Collins Odhiambo Ukumu.

Nyasa Big Bullets Head Coach, Pasuwa said his players were slow in the game. “We were too slow on the ball. We need to have confidence to build the attack from the back. We still have more to do. But so far so good, we are coming up

On his part, Antoninho Machanga, Ferroviario De Nampula Coach ” “We arrived late and we had no time to rest. Am happy with the performance of my boys.

“In the first-half, we managed to create chances but we failed to utilise. We changed some players in the second half to give chance to the new players.”

Stanley Billiati, The young and pacey forward in absence of Patrick Mwaungulu embraced the responsibility of being a threat for the visitors.

His ability to play behind the defensive lines gave him an advantage in the game and he could have registered two assists before the end of the first-half, but the profligacy of his Strikers let him down.

In the second-half, he invited Ferroviario De Nampula’s goalkeeper to a save as he unleashed a hammer shot from the edge of the box after beating three players.

He was a constant threat trophy the game.

Kitsen White, Deployed as a right-back in absence of the 2022 TNM Super League player of the season, Gomezgani Chirwa but the academy graduate who spentast season on loan at Sable Farming failed to impress in the game.

The visitors were penetrative through his side as he seemed to be lacking confidence in the game.

The highly rated full back Erik Kaonga was named as a starter as Precious Sambani was omitted from the squad but he was not good offensive.

In the first-half, the visitors passed through his flank a couple of times but they were blunt in the game. He misplaced the pass in the first half that landed on to the feet of the visitors but they couldn’t manage to utilise it.

Kaonga failed to make a successful cross in the game but at least improved in the second-half.

Frank Willard who overshadowed Mpokera last season was not in the matchday squad and Mpokera was given the role of defending midfielder. His ability to play long passes and his sight put him slightly higher than his fellow midfielders. He shone throughout, cutting passing lanes, making tackles and showing adventure on the ball with a series of smart forward runs.