Run-away leaders Big Bullets have thrown caution to the wind and declared themselves TNM Super League champions after yesterday’s 3-1 victory over stubborn Moyale Barracks in a temperamental, physical but exciting encounter at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Technical director Billy Tewesa said it was time to accept the reality that the championship battle was over.
“Technically, we have won the league title. It’s only that a lot of people in Malawi don’t want to accept this reality,” Tewesa said.
Bullets now lead with 44 points from 19 games followed by Mafco at 37 points from 21 games while Silver Strikers are third with 35 points from 20 games.
After succumbing to their first loss in the league this season to Airborne Rangers last week, Bullets were in no compromising mood. Their game had so much life. They played with purpose.
And it was not a surprise that Bullets grabbed two quick goals by the half-hour mark. The first one was a rocket from Chiukepo Msowoya.
The former Orlando Pirates forward, blessed with perfect positioning, stayed on side, as a long aerial ball from Jaffalie Chande zoomed past the defenders and looked up at Juma Chikwenga’s position before releasing a shot that left the goalkeeper rooted.
Even before Bullets supporters had finished celebrating Chiukepo’s beauty, twin striker Mussa Manyenje doubled the lead.
Returning to action after being relegated to the bench for a long time, Manyenje intercepted Robert Simkonda’s back pass to goalkeeper Chikwenga who had left his line to remedy the solution, but in a split of a second, he was rounded off by Manyenje and the rest is history.
But in 41st minute, Moyale marksman Deus Nkutu brought hope back into the soldiers within 30 seconds after replacing Dan Katunga when he connected from a seemingly harmless cross from the right to beat ill-positioned Chimwemwe Kumkwawa with his first touch.
The second-half was a balanced affair with Moyale threatening to grab an equaliser. But too many fouls on the part of the soldiers cost them the game. They ended up playing the last 21 minutes with 10 men following the sending off of Timothy Nyirenda who got a second yellow card for a foul on Dalitso Sailesi.
Though it seemed like the game would end at 2-1, Chiukepo dribbled past three Moyale defenders in the box before laying it for substitute Aimable Niyikiza to simply tap in from close range—his first ever league goal for Bullets.
In other games, Fisd Wizards beat Airborne 2-0 at Nchalo. Blue Eagles were 2-1 victors over Kamuzu Barracks at Nankhaka while Mafco collected maximum points with a 1-0 win over Dedza Young soccer.
