Nomads fall, Bullets win
Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers had mixed fortunes on the first day of the Energem International Bonanza at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Friday.
The People’s Team edged Mozambican side UD Songo 1-0 while the Nomads went down by a similar margin to Chicken Inn of Zimbabwe.
In an early kick off, the Nomads’ first XI of captain Alfred Manyozo Jnr, Lucky Malata, Peter Cholopi, Stanley Sanudi, Felix Zulu, Babatunde Adepoju and some trialists such as Juma Yatina and Mathews Sibale, looked rusty as they failed to sparkle.
The Zimbabweans on the other hand, took the game to the Nomads and were rewarded in the 32nd minute when goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa failed to tame a seemingly weak shot from Malvin Gaki.
In the second-half the Nomads failed to utilise their numeric advantage after the visitors were reduced to 10 men following a second yellow card shown to Obriel Chirinda.
However, Nomads head coach Bob Mpinganjira played down the loss saying: “We are still way behind in fitness levels, having regrouped a fortnight ago, but by the time we finish the bonanza, we will be in shape.
“That said, it was a very good game. We have lost, but we are not looking at results. We are assessing how the players are faring as we prepare for the coming season.
“We will take the games as they come. We will sit down and analyse this game and see where we can improve.”
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas was all praises for his charges.
“Considering that it was our first game after off season, the boys did well. I would say Wanderers didn’t give us much of a problem although we played with 10 men for a good part of the second half,” he said.
Luckily, Bullets saved the day as they survived UD Songo.
Left-back Precious Sambani swung upfield to plant home a well-curled corner kick from Righteous Banda in the 62nd minute to send Bullets faithful into delirium and earn the People’s Team precious three points.
Though resting almost his entire first XI and featuring players that did not enjoy game time last season such as Ernest Kakhobwe, Pilirani Zonda, Sankhani Mkandawire, Bright Munthali, Dalitso Sailesi, Miracle Gabeya and Nelson Kangunje, the TNM Super League champions still got the better of the Mocambola outfit who had Malawians John ‘CJ’ Banda and Schumacher Kuwali in their starting line-up.
In the dying minutes, Bullets introduced former Nomads forward Zicco Mkanda, who was given a standing ovation by the Bullets fans after replacing Kangunje.
Coach Callisto Pasuwa expressed his satisfaction with his players’ performance.
The Zimbabwean tactician, however, said he would ring the changes to the first XI in their next game against Chicken Inn this afternoon.
“Those that did not play today will have a chance in the next game,” he said.
‘CJ’ Banda blamed the loss on exhaustion having travelled by road and arrived late on Wednesday evening but promised to take the game to Wanderers.
The battle resumes this afternoon with the teams swapping opponents.
