Frank Mojah Dzuwa 

From the start, it was Mighty Wanderers pressing with intent to score. They quickly adapted to Bullets’s playing style of dominating the midfield, being first on the ball and winning all second balls, sending FCB Nyasa Big Bullets attacking midfielders Mike Mkwate and Wongani Lungu in all directions.

Five minutes passed with Nomads winning the midfield battle. That confidence gave them energy to terrorise Bullets who kept on losing balls cheaply.      

Poor passes from Clyde Senaji, captain Lloyd Aaron, Yankho Singo, Blessings Mpokera and Lungu plus back passes from Mike Mkwate, made Bullets players retreat and choke as Nomads kept pressing.

At 12 minutes Nomads already found their goal from Blessings Mwalilino after connecting home a loose ball delivered through a corner kick in the box. It was a fast one, difficult for Bullets to settle and respond.

At 23 minutes, Senaji had lost the ball four times, Mpokera two, Aaron three and Singo two, forcing coach Peter Mponda to make an early substitution taking our Senaji who featured on left back, for Frank Willard.

The coming in of Willard meant that Singo would partner Mpokera at the back as Willard pared Aaron at the centre. But still, Bullets could not tick. Blessings Singini and Felix Zulu were just on another level. Possessed by the derby spirit that Bullets missed.

Mkwate was nowhere near as he failed to see his strikers Maxwell Phodo and Babatunde Adepoju. Chikumbutso Salima, though not utilized, could not deliver for his strikers. Lungu and Aaron were just second best to Singini and the experienced Zulu whose dominance opened windows of opportunity for the Nomads.

Attacking players like Francisco Madinga, Gaddie Chirwa and Wisdom Mpindanjira were freed to play in Bullets’ half giving much pressure to the league leaders.

If it was in university, the Bullets defence would be readying for supplementary exams. The porousness of their midfield was the reason Mpokera, Senaji and Blessings Joseph committed numerous mistakes at the back. They defended, held the ball, but their midfield was not available to receive, forcing them to give it away cheaply.    

The opening half ended with Wanderers having three shots on target and seven corner kicks for their attack while Bullets had no shot on target, with just four corner kicks for their consolation.

Mponda was not convinced. He made two more changes at halftime; taking out Aaron and Mkwate for Chawanangwa Gumbo and Henry Chiwaya.

From the start of the second half, Bullets started ticking but could not sustain it as Nomads shifted their game plan to defend in numbers. They brought in Masiya Manda, a defender and striker Clement Nyondo for Chirwa and Dedza’sPromise.

Mponda kept changing players and approach but it was too little to break the Wanderers midfield. A few half chances here and there, forcing Cholopi and Mtete into saves, but nothing much, anyway. Mponda could not do otherwise but accept Bullets’s first league defeat of the season.

“We admit we lost. Today, we weren’t on the pitch, especially in the first half. Our midfielders didn’t show up as they usually do. We failed to create goal-scoring opportunities, and once we conceded, it became difficult for us. Wanderers deserved the win today,” said Mponda. 

Wanderers head coach Bob Mpinganjira was full of praise for his players after ending their derby drought.

“I’m very satisfied with how we played. We told them not to give Bullets space to play and to keep possession when we win the ball. That worked perfectly, and we got the result,” said Mpinganjira.

The win sees Wanderers close the gap at the top of the log to just two points. They now sit in second place with 16 points from six matches, while Bullets remain first with 18 points from seven games.

Lineups: 

Wanderers – Chancy Mtete, Felix Zulu (C), Blessings Singini, Peter Cholopi, Timothy Silwimba, Stanley Sanudi, Francisco Madinga, Gaddie Chirwa, Wisdom Mpinganjira, Promose Kamwendo and Blessings Mwalilino.  

Bullets – Innocent Nyasulu, Blessings Joseph, Blessings Mpokera, Clyde Senaji, Yankho Singo, Lloyd Aaron, Wongani Lungu, Mike Mwate, Chikumbutso Salima, Maxwell Phodo, Babatunde Adepoju.