Baptism of fire
Nyasa Big Bullets on Sunday reclaimed their six-point lead at the summit of the TNM Super League following a 6-0 thrashing of eighth-placed Kamuzu Barracks (KB) at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Braces from Chiukepo Msowoya and Bright Munthali and strikes from man-of-the-match Nelson Kangunje and Mussa Manyenje ensured that Bullets remain the only unbeaten outfit on the 16-team log-table.
The win has seen The People’s Team taking their tally to 49 points from 21 games, six points ahead of second-placed Silver Strikers and seven in front of third-positioned defending champions Be Forward Wanderers.
In the game, Msowoya opened the score-sheet after beating defender Sam Chivunde and goalkeeper Bonage Lweya before a tap-in in the fifth minute.
Then came Munthali with a header in the 30th minute before Kangunje fired a volley to end the first-half 3-0 in favour of Bullets.
During the first-half, KB registered five shots off target with no shot on target. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, KB created several passes and scoring chances, but Bullets goalkeeper Robson Chienda was up to the task.
KB made two changes, but it never worked as Munthali headed home the fourth goal for Bullets in the 58th minute before Msowoya scored his 12th league goal of the season in the 77th minute.
Msowoya is now the league’s leading scorer. Kasungu-based TN Stars’ Stain Davie is second top scorer with 11 goals.
Mussa Manyenje, who came on for Munthali, finished the baptism of fire when he scored The People’s Team’s sixth goal in the 88th minute.
Bullets have now won 14 games and drawn seven.
The development means Bullets would be crowned champions if they win at least seven of their remaining nine games as they have created a 30-goal difference against Silver’s 15 and Wanderers’ 14, having scored 39 and conceded only nine goals.
KB coach Temwa Msuku blamed his men for the poor performance.
“We were second to Bullets in everything. The coordination at the back was poor. Nothing new, and we have accepted defeat,” he said.
Bullets team manager James Chilapondwa expressed delight at his side’s performance.
“This was a tough match, but we managed to unscrew our opponents’ defence due to our splendid game plan. If we continue like this, then the crown is ours,” he said.
So far, Bullets have won five of their last six league matches against KB. The last time KB beat Bullets in the league was in the first-round of the 2016 season when they triumphed 1-0.
In other Super League matches yesterday, Azam Tigers beat Blue Eagles 3-2 at Mulanje Park while Mzuzu University (Mzuni) FC put home ground advantage to good use when they triumphed 2-0 over Masters Security of Lilongwe.
In other games, TN Stars drew 1-1 against Red Lions while Civil Sporting and Mafco settled for a 2-2 draw at Civo Stadium.
