Rachael Kaphaizi
Silver 0-1 Bullets
They are the champions without conceding. They are the first team to defend the trophy. They are the first team to win the trophy three times despite them being barred in 2019.
Finally, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have broken their curse of not winning the Airtel Top 8 at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Their hearts are filled with happiness after a somehow difficult season.
It was midfielder Ernest Petro who turned on the magic for Bullets, heading home a lovely cross from left back Alick Lungu into the bottom right corner of the net.
Despite Silver Strikers’ dominating play, it was impossible to disappoint the Bullets this time.
This means that Silver Strikers have been knocked out of two trophies in a space of four days.
On Tuesday last week, they were kicked out of Castel Challenge Cup in round of 32 by lower league side Panthers FC.
How the match progressed
Today, the match started with both teams looking for an early goal, but it was all a dream, as their efforts did not pay off in the first half which ended goalless.
The second half started like the first with the Bankers pressing hard for a goal but it was disappointing as they could not get the back of the net.
Bullets had three encounters to score, but all of them yielded nothing.
Then the moment came to separate boys from men. Babatunde Adepoju won his side a corner kick which Chikumbutso Salima took charge, it was a short corner, passing the ball to Lungu who moved closer to the corner flag before releasing a lovely cross into the 6-yard box. Silver Strikers Goalkeeper George Chikooka failed to clear it and behind him was Petro who headed the ball into the net.
After that, goal chances came for both sides, but nothing happened,
Ernest’s petrol, which fuelled Bullets’ bus was enough to take them back to Blantyre with K30 million in the bank.
Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa was relieved: “We had a bad season due to a number of factors, we have been losing games, I am happy that we have defended the trophy.” ,He exploded.
But Peter Mponda was a disappointed person: “We dominated the whole game, Bullets did nothing, we gave them a goal.” He lamented.
Petro was named player of the match. While Chinsisi Maonga is the top goal scorer with three goals. He scored all goals past Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos in the quarter finals (two in the first match and a penalty in the second leg).
Bullets are the only team that have not conceded any goal in this season’s Airtel Top 8. They hammered Civil Service United 2-0 on aggregate in the quarter finals and punished Kamuzu Barracks 2-0 in thr last four before claiming this final .
At Bingu, Bullets have been struggling to get results in the previous Airtel Top 8 finals. In 2018, they lost to Blue Eagles 1-0 before a shoutout defeat to Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in 2022.
Airtel Cup since 2017
2017 Silver Strikers
2018 Blue Eagles
2019 Silver Strikers
2021 FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Bullets
2022 Mighty Mukuru Wanderers
2023 FCB Nyasa Big Bullets
2024 FCB Nyasa Big Bullets
Lineups:
Silver
George Chikooka, Chikondi Kamanga (C), McDonald Lameck, Innocent Shema, Chinsisi Maonga, Zebron Kalima, BinwellKatinji, Maxwell Paipi, Daniel Sandukira, Uchizi Vunga, Chimwemwe Idana
Bullets
Richard Chimbamba, Gomezgani Chirwa (C), Nickson Nyasulu, Ernest Petro, Alick Lungu, Ephraim Kondowe, Yankho Singo, Babatunde Adepoju, Wongani Lungu, Precious Phiri, Chrispin Mapemba.
