Derby delight for Bullets as Nomads lose again: Malawi TNM Super League
Mighty Wanderers season takes another hammer blow – as their archrivals Big Bullets left Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday with three points and maintains unbeaten record in the TNM Super League.
Bullets rose to second on 17 points from seven games as Wanderers, who were docked six points as punishment for causing last season’s violence, slip down to the bottom of the league for the first time in over a decade with just a point in eight games.
It’s another humiliating loss for the blues, their fourth straight defeat and the second consecutive for new coach Gerald Phiri.
A top four finish for Nomads looks increasingly unlikely.
“We have to pull up our socks. The players lack confidence now but we will work around that,” said assistant coach Charles Manda said after the match.
“It is possible to turn things around and that’s the task we have now,” he added.
Bullets, who are in the leading pack in the Super League title race, dominated the game especially in the first half in which Wanderers were reduced to mere shadows of the ability.
Former South Africa based professional Jimmy Zakazaka proved that he has not lost his potent that earned him the moniker ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction’ by Zambia’s legendary soccer commentator late Dennis Liwewe by scoring the first goal in the 17th minute.
New catch Tizgowere Kumwenda from Blantyre United safeguarded the lead with a late second half goal scored in the 87th minute.
Zakazaka, who has been battling injuries, stepped up to take a freekick to score what are quiet becoming rare goals in Malawi because of lack of freekick specialists of former Wanderers’ Leonard Malunga calibre.
Wanderers striking force of Victor Mpinganjira and Diverson Chilemba gave Bullets rejuvenated goalkeeper Vincent Gona no proper work to do in the entire first half despite efforts from enterprising midfielders Mike Kadziputa and Tomothy Chitedze.
The blues reorganised themselves after first half recess pep talk as they gave Bullets some work to do to defend their slender lead.
But Wanderers were not just good enough to spoil their bitter rivals their day as they failed to overcome a high spirited team led by veteran controversial winger Fisher Kondowe, Yamikani Fodya and Tizgowere Kumwenda.Kondowe was also named man of the match and won some token prizes from the sponsors, TNM for inspiring Bullets to victory.
Wanderers coach Phiri blamed the loss on the team’s lack of sharp shooters.
“We played well but we have problems in scoring. This is the area we need to sit down with the executive committee to see what we can do in the second round,” Phiri said.
But Phiri said he was impressed to see that Wanderers had been improving since he took over the team.
“I am sad that we have lost two games since I took over but I am optimistic that there’s time to catch up.”
Bullets assistant coach Mabvuto Lungu said the team was determined to win the game.
“We started strongly and got the goal early in the first half. We knew that they would come hard on us in the second half so our plan was to catch them on the counterattack which paid dividends with the second goal we scored towards the end of the second half,” Lungu said.
Bullets have moved to second position with 17 points from seven game two shy of league leaders Moyale Barracks while Wanderers are anchoring the league with one point from eight games.
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