Bullets, Wanderers draw in charity match for Beit Cure Hospital

Traditional soccer rivals Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers drew 1-1 in a charity encounter which was organized by Beit Cure International Hospital on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Supporters from both teams were given the  choice  to select players who they wanted to be featured for the game through voting.

The other unusual thing was that the chief supporters committee being given powers to coach the teams throughout the game without the presence of their usual technical panel.

On the Nomads side, their flamboyant Yona ‘Green’ Malunga was responsible in coaching the Nomads while the People’s Team were coached by  top fan ‘Nyau’,as he popularly known.

Kaipa closely mark Mlozi during the match.- Photo by Jeromy Kadewere
Kaipa closely mark Mlozi during the match.- Photo by Jeromy Kadewer

The game kicked-off on a high note with Bullets controlling the first 20 minutes especially on the mid field where Chimango Kayira was operating from.

Kayira was a thorn to the Nomads, as he controlled the middle of the park well alongside James ‘Terminator’ Chilapondwa.

It was not surprising when Kayira unleashed a grass cutter into the Nomads net to the satisfaction of the Bullets fans, who felt the absence of their wonder boy Gabadihno Mhango, who is nursing an injury.

The People’s Team relaxed towards the end of the first half, as the Nomads picked up their game especially from the left wing, where probably man of the match Gerald Phiri Jnr was operating.

Phiri was a marvel to watch, as he kept Big Bullets veteran midfielder Fischer Kondowe at bay.

Kondowe failed to tick for the entire game probably due to fatigue as he was with the Flames in Namibia.

The Nomads terrorized the People’s defence towards the end of the game, no wonder Anthony Banda tapped in a Victor Mpinganjira’s back pass to equalize for the Lali-Lubani Boys.

On recess time, it was 1-1.

Come the last 45 minutes, both sides made several changes with the Nomads introducing their three new catches from Azam Tigers and Bvumbwe Research.

It was Kondwani Lufeyo, from Tigers who kept the Nomads defence tight alongside no nonsense Bongani Kaipa.

The introduction of Lufeyo for Idriss Walesi brought some discipline to the Nomads defence as he frustrated Diverson Mlozi.

MBC Barred

However, there was drama before the kick-off of the game, as national broadcaster MBC who came with their equipment ready to broadcast the match live were told to pack up.

MBC Sports commentator Patrick Simango was seen trying to lobby the organizers to allow the state broadcaster to cover the game live but their appeal proved futile.

An inside source from MBC confided with Nyasa Times that  private Zodiak Broadcasting Services  who bought the rights for the game were surprised to find out that MBC were also  allowed to cover the game behind their back.

“We heard Zodiak confronted the organizers on why MBC were allowed to cover the game live as if they own the rights of the game.So the next thing we were directed by the organizers not to cover the game,” he said.

Before the MBC saga, there was also drama when the organizers demanded sports journalists to pay if they wanted to cover the game.

It had to take an intervention of Sports Writers Association president Peter Kanjere to grill the organizers on the importance of the media since they (Organizers) were looking for publicity.

After an hour waiting outside the stadium, the organizers finally bowed down before allowing the sports scribes to have an access to cover the game.

Gerald Phiri Jnr was a marvel to wtach.....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Gerald Phiri Jnr was a marvel to wtach…..Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu wishing Big Bullets technical panel best wishes....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu wishing Big Bullets technical panel best wishes….Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu shaking hands with Nomads top fan Yona Malunga who coached the side....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu shaking hands with Nomads top fan Yona Malunga who coached the side….Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Nyau coached Big Bullets....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Nyau coached Big Bullets….Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Fischer Kondowe, Heston Munthali and Douglas Chirambo ready for the battle...Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Fischer Kondowe, Heston Munthali and Douglas Chirambo ready for the battle…Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Gerald Phiri, Bongani Kaipa, Mapopa Msukwa and Manyozo Jnr ready for the game....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Gerald Phiri, Bongani Kaipa, Mapopa Msukwa and Manyozo Jnr ready for the game….Photo Jeromy Kadewere
The ball in Chipuwa's safe hands....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
The ball in Chipuwa’s safe hands….Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Ball Boys parading onto the field of play.....Photo Jeromy Kadewere
Ball Boys parading onto the field of play…..Photo Jeromy Kadewere

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