BB beat Nomads again in Blantyre derby

Mighty Wanderers stormed the Kamuzu Stadium desperate for revenge today, but instead it was Mabvuto Lungu who got it after mentoring Big Bullets to a 1-0 win that brightened their TNM Super League title aspirations.

The build-up to the Blantyre derby, that brought the whole city to stand still with a clash of red and blue colours associated with the two giants, was littered with juju beliefs. On Wednesday, Wanderers fans even chased Lungu from BAT Ground, where the Nomads train. Come today, Lungu and head coach Elia Kananji had the last laugh.

“We told our players that they [Nomads] chased us, so let us punish them. I am happy they did. The title remains wide open, but this is the game we needed to win. We knew Wanderers would be prepared and we were also prepared. You saw where the goal came from,” Lungu said in a post-match interview.

With that 11th win of the season, achieved through Pilirani Zonda’s 19th minute goal, the Bullets completed a double of wins over their rivals to temporarily move to second with 40 points from 19 games, pushing to third Moyale Barracks who meet Karonga United today. Blue Eagles remain top on similar points after trouncing Epac 3-1.

Indeed if Wanderers stepped onto the pitch looking uninspiring before a record crowd, the Bullets brought an element of surprise to their rivals, benching three experienced regulars, who started in last weeks match James Chilapondwa, Fischer Kondowe and Jimmy Zakazazaka for fresher legs of Bashir Maunde, Jaffalie Chande and Frazer Menyani.

Maunde, in holding midfield role, broke the Nomads attacks. Dalitso Sailesi stretched the Nomads wide. Victor Limbani and Henry Kabichi stole possession and galloped forward, squeezing the slow-on-the -ball passing and deep defending Wanderers who conceded a succession of corner kicks.

It took the post to save the Nomads, but they did not heed the warning. Little wonder, Zonda caught the Nomads sleeping in a counterattack on the tight. He sped like a Merc, cut inside unmarked before pulling the trigger to beat badly positioned Wanderers goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa with a bounce at the uncovered near post.

The Nomads’ reaction was meek. They lacked urgency in their passing and still tried to build from the back, but the transition from defence was too slow. They often failed to clear the ball first time when the Bullets camped in their goal area. Francis Mulimbika and Enock Likoswe worked over time in the Wanderers defence.

Wanderers’ striker Khumbo Ng’ambi had a chance to salvage something, but he was left down by his heavy first touches. He first failed to meet Milanzi’s cross, then could not control the ball with the goal post in sight, thereby allowing Sankhani Mkandawire to clear the danger.

His striker partner Luka Milanzi looked sharper, but lacked support. In stepped Sparrow Msowoya after break, but by that time the Bullets had grown in composure bringing in Chilapondwa to close the door. Another Wanderers’ substitute Elia Munthali had an effort blocked.

The Bullets continued to look the more threatening on the break through Mussa Manyenje who terrorised the Nomads’ defence, thanks Likoswe deflected Kondowe’s cross for a corner kick. Then Zakazaka’s thunderous free kick produced a finger tip save from Chipuwa.Manyenje also had a free header placed over the ball.

The game ended with Wanderers hopeing for an equaliser, but it was all in vain for the father of this derby Yasin Osman and coach Gerald Phiri Senior.

“The result could have been different if we had not conceded too early. We made a mistake leading to that goals and that was it,” Phiri said in a post-match interview.

In other games, Airborne Rangers lost 3-1 Mafco in a Dwangwa derby.