Wa Ganyu

Silver 0-0 Bullets 

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers hopes of dethroning Silver Strikers at the top of the TNM Super League received mixed fortunes when the Bankers avoided defeat against defending champions, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.

While Bankers will celebrate the point earned, Bullets fans will be in their divine right to rue missed chances by their attackers.

From headers of the mark to brilliant saves by Silver Strikers goalkeeper George Chikooka, the defending champions had chances to get the better of Silver but proved wasteful upfront.

At 53 minutes, Bullets striker Maxwell Phodo had all work done by Yamikani Mologeni, with only him to finish the job by slotting the ball in but opted to balloon it to the Bwandiro bottle-stores.

Fifteen minutes later, it was Wongani Lungu whose thunderous left shot from outside the box met a prepared Chikooka who parried it to safety to keep Bankers hearts at ease.

Despite all these attempts, Bullets were not done. Barely four minutes later, Chikumbutso Salima sent Maxwell Paipi to the floor before whipping in a dangerous pass into the box only to meet Yankho Singo who blasted his effort over the crossbar when the goal was wide open, another glorious opportunity missed.

In between the Bankers had their own chances. Most notably, Chinsinsi Matonga’s first half effort at sneaking behind the Bullets defence only to be stopped by a charging Bullets keeper Richard Chimbamba.
Likewise, Katinji Binwell will equally regret arriving late in the second half and failing to connect a Daniel Sandukira cross that was whipped into the box.

At 80 minutes, Uchizi Vunga came close to breaking the deadlock for the Bankers when he chanced on a loose ball from midfield and pressed forward and his low shot was saved by Chimbamba.

As the game tailed to the end, Bullets holding midfielder, Singo, was given a second yellow and marching orders following a karate-like high kick on Paul Kansungwi.

In the end, Silver coach Peter Mponda said taking four points from Bullets this season is no mean achievement.

“We had a good game today as it was tactically tight. We were playing a side that has won the league several times and a side that is defending the championship so I feel we are good with the result”, said Mponda, before adding that being 5 points clear means they need to work hard to win the league.

On his part, Pasuwa rued the missed chances but stressed: “I am happy with my players.”

The goalless draw means Silver Strikers, who beat Bullets in the opening fixture played at Kamuzu Stadium are now on a streak of 26 league games without a loss.

Chikooka was voted man of the match. 

Silver lead with 58 points while Wanderers sit second with 53 with both playing 26 games. Bullets is third with 45 points.

How they lined up
Silver Strikers:

George Chikooka, Chikondi Kamanga (C), McDonald Lameck, Innocent Shema, Chinsinsi Maonga, Zebron Kalima
Stenie Davie, Maxwell Paipi, Daniel Sandukira, Uchizi Vunga, Chimwemwe Idana. 

Bullets:

Richard Chimbamba, Gomezgani Chirwa (C), Yamikani Mologeni, Nickson Nyasulu, Ernest Petro, Alick Lungu, Yankho Singo
Babatunde Adepoju, Stanley Biliat, Lloyd Aaron, Maxwell Phodo Gasten.