OPINION: BULLETS EXPOSE HOW BADLY CIVIL HAVE REGRESSED-Phodo ends goal drought as Bullets take a giant step towards the semi-finals of Airtel Top 8

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ current most in-form player, Patrick Mwangulu, their arguably best defender so far, Clyde Senaji, Lanjesi Nkhoma, Yamikani Fodya were not even in the matchday squad. Ernest Petro, Alick Lungu, Mike Mkwate were on the sideline due to respective injuries while Gomezgan Chirwa, Frank Willard, Precious Sambani, Peter Banda, Ephraim Kondowe, Hassan Kajoke were all on the bench.

With a shrink squad and a doubtful starting Xi, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets managed to put two past Civil Service United and take a giant step towards the semi-finals of the Airtel Top 8 Cup, thereby exposing how the Servants have regressed this season.

“Sitimafuna Zowalirana,” that’s their motto, but many teams have had mockery of this expression. Even after sacking Oscar Kaunda, though they said that he has been deployed, Civil are still progressing backwards.

Many would doubt how Bullets would prevail with the majority of their key players not starting, but Civil Service United were such leaky to give themselves a Mountain Sinai to climb in the second leg at the Kamuzu Stadium, the venue that they haven’t chalked a win over Bullets in over 10 years.

Maxwell Gastin Phodo ended his goal drought. Hassan Kajoke came off the bench to put the game miles away from the government sponsored side.

Roared on by their handful of supporters who usually take their seats in the northern hemisphere stands, Civil Service United showed some glitters of shining in the game. They were coming from a drubbing 5-0 victory over non-league side, Mgwirizano FC but that couldn’t help Civil to build confidence.

Civil were winners in the last cup meeting between the two teams in 2015 in the Standard Bank Cup but they have now lost two games in three games this season against Bullets. They started the game on different meniscus with their visitors as Damian Kunje was trying to be a thorn.

Lloyd Aaron bosses the game in the first minutes but Blessings Mpokera names the man of the match in his first start since coming from an injury. Benega combined with Kunje on the right before the later whipped in the ball to Binwell Katinji but Nixon Nyasulu who donned the captaincy armband was quick to clear the ball.

Dan Kumwenda wasted the best chance of the afternoon. Benega played Katinji through before the striker spotted Kumwenda who directed his header over the bar before Festus Duwe fired wide after latching on to Katinji’s ball.

Innocent Tanganyika used his experience to walk into Bullets’ defence but the passes in the final third haunted the hosts.

If there is one area which FCB Nyasa Big Bullets must consider by the end of this season in their goalkeeping department. They have three goalkeepers but all of them, there is no number one and no one deserves to. Richard Chimbamba nearly cost the team in their home game against Dragon FC. Clever Mkungula shipped four goals in DRC against TP Mazembe and Rabson Chiyenda who made his sixth consecutive start in domestic football nearly hogged headlines.

Against Mafco FC he gifted the opponents an indirect free-kick after a kindergarten howler, and against Civil, he nearly gave the hosts the lead. Lack of communication with his defenders saw him colliding with his captain, Nixon Nyasulu fortunately the ball deflected for a corner.

In a flash, Bullets were in front. Maxwell Phodo scored his fifth goal for the club. The last time he scored in a domestic game was against Ndirande Stars, but the goal was worth waiting. He charged towards the away fans.

The way Kalisto Pasuwa had been managing his players gives something to admire. Ephraim Kondowe was surprisingly but deservedly given the role to start in a cup final, but this one was for Phodo to start. His combination with Stanley Billiati and MacFarlane Mgwira made Bullets to be a threat on the break.

Billiati had his second assist in two games, he laid the ball off to Phodo who glanced at the goalkeeper before thundering it into the roof of the net.

Lumbani Nyirenda couldn’t stop Phodo but he was alert to tame Stanley Billiati’s effort from inside the penalty area.

Two yellow cards were flashed to Civil Service United’s defenders in a space of three minutes in the second half. That alone tells how busy they were after squandering chances in the first half. Damian Kunje was cautioned for pulling Mgwira while Boston Kabango brought down Phodo.

Katinji was unfortunate to rattle to the cross-bar, Phodo was late to strike the ball after being picked up by Anthony Mfune. The Servants have conceded 26 goals in the super league but they have just scored 20, they carry a goal difference of -6 but they are in records of one of the teams that won the league, could they dream of it nowadays according to how they have regressed?

With Kunje surviving within the skin of his teeth after the booking in the first round, Bullets knew that he would loosen his nuts. MacFarlane Mgwira put the ball between the defenders and Hassan Kajoke overtook Kunje to put the ball past hapless Nyirenda for the second goal.

A quick response was issued by Civil but Chiyenda did his job well to deny Katinji from registering his first Airtel Top 8 Cup goal. Collins Okumu nearly stabbed into his own net but the ball flew over the bar.

Civil Service United have now lost 11 games in all competitions this season including 9 in the super league. Civil will have to travel to Blantyre for the second leg where they will be needed to score more than two goals without conceding for them to progress to the next phase of the Airtel Top 8 Cup.