Sulom applauds CAF reps Bullets, Silver

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has applauded country’s representatives in Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) club competitions Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers despite the two sides being booted out in preliminary rounds.

Both teams lost 4-3 on post-match penalties with Bullets losing to Gor Mahia of Kenya at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre while Silver lost to Association Omnisport Center Mberi Sportif (AO CMS) of Gabon at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe despite overturning first round 1-0 deficits in the second legs on Wednesday.

But Sulom treasurer and acting vice-president Tiya Somba-Banda said the two sides put up a gallant fight and lost honourably.

“Let’s give credit to Bullets and Silver for preparing well. The international friendly games helped the two teams in their preparations. I am glad that, as a country, we have improved and learned a lot of lessons from our last participation,” he said.

Last year, Be Forward Wanderers were booted out in the preliminary round after losing 6-1 on aggregate to AS Vita from DR Congo while Masters Security were clobbered 5-0 by Petróleos de Luanda of Angola.

Somba-Banda felt Malawian teams are making progress and should keep on participating in the continental competitions.

“The more we play in these tournaments, the more we will improve our game and raise the profile of our football as well,” he said.

Soccer analyst David Kanyenda also shared the same sentiments.

“Overall, they have performed better than last time candidates. They chalked wins plus kept clean sheets at home and did not lose the tie, but were unfortunate in penalty shoot-outs,” he said.

Bullets blew up a golden chance to make it to the next round after Chiukepo Msowoya missed a penalty with two minutes to regulation time after he had put the hosts ahead in the 55th minute with a superb volley.

In penalty shoot-outs, Bullets missed two penalties through Pilirani Zonda and Miracle Gabeya while their opponents Gor Mahia converted all their penalties.

In Lilongwe, Khuda Muyaba pounced on a loose ball to cancel AC OMC 1-0 from the first leg to force the match into penalties.

But in penalty shoot-outs, the Bankers also missed two through Yunusa Sherif and Victor Limbani while the hosts converted all their spot-kicks to win 4-3.