Bullets win Orange Partners charity shield: Gaba gets golden boot award
Team of the moment Big Bullets FC were Sunday at Civo stadium in Lilongwe crowned champions of the Orange Partners Charity Shield bonanza after they convincingly beat capital city giants Silvers Strikers 3-1 before an equally impressive crowd which included the country’s First Gentleman Retired Chief Justice Richard Banda.
The two teams had reached the final of the two-day tournament after trouncing Mighty Wanderers and Epac FC by 2-0 margins, respectively.
Bullets coach Eddington Ng’omano said the club is going to vigorously campaign “to get more trophies this season.”
Midfield workhorse Chimango Kaira opened the score-sheet when he beautifully headed in a Douglas Chirambo cross in the 11th minute of the first half.
Bullets FC suffered a huge blow in the last minutes of the second half after their defender Sankhani Mkandawire was sent off for a second bookable offence by referee Leo Ngoleka.
This prompted Bullets supporters to start throwing missiles into the field of play before demolishing the fence which they later mended themselves.
Close to the VIP Stand, where the First Gentleman was sitting, some Bullets’ fans also protested vehemently, forcing the officiating personnel to stay on the field for a while after the half-time whistle.
Despite being reduced to 10-men, Bullets continued to pile pressure on Silver after recess.
Douglas Chirambo extended the lead from a free kick taken from outside the penalty box.
The ball deflected into the net after hitting the human wall sending goalkeeper Amadu Ali the wrong way in the process.
Bullets continued with their entertaining and purposeful style of play.
Silver Strikers missed a number of scoring opportunities with Green Harawa and Wondeful Jeremani the main culprits.
The Bankers made two substitutions resting Ndaona Daisi and Jester Mulima bringing in Dave Moya and Asedi Ayami but to no avail.
But it was Bullets substitution of Gabadinho Mhango which paid dividends as the youthful striker registered his name on the score sheet few minutes after being introduced.
He capitalised on a blunder by Wonderful Jeremani who wanted to play a square ball to the right flank only for the ball to land on Gabadinho’s foot who connected into the net.
Gaba’s goal sent Bullets supporters into wild celebrations.
Silver score the consolation goal through substitute Dave Moya in the dying minutes of the game.
At the end of 90 minutes Silver 1 Bullets 3.
Silver had a relief as midfielder Young Chimodzi Junior was voted man of the match and went away with K20,000.00.
Chairperson of the Orange Partner Organising Committee, George Tambala, said they wanted to raise K10 million (about $25 000) for flood victims in Phalombe, Chikhwawa, Mangochi, Nsanje, Salima and Karonga.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive member James Mwenda thanked Orange Partners for using football to raise money for flood victims.
Bullets went home K1 million (about $2 500) richer while Silver got K500 000 (about $1 250)
Competitions Awards
At the end of the two day tournament, Bullets FC swept all the individual awards with the only fair play award going to Epac and they received K50,000.00.
Gabadinho Mhango and Chimango Kaira won the joint golden boot award and went away with K10,000.00 each.
Owen Chaima was voted best goalkeeper of the tournament.
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