The sight of captain Blessings Mpokera and midfielders Yankho Singo and Chawanangwa Gumbo on the bench suggested that Bullets coach Gilbert Chirwa was seeking the energy and pace of younger legs in the centre.
But Blue Eagles demand respect, especially given how hard they run under coach DeClerk Msakakuona.
By the 35th minute, Bullets were fortunate to trail 1-0, thanks to saves from Innocent Nyasulu following numerous attempts from the Nankhaka side. By then, Bullets had managed just one shot on target, a Clever Kalambo free kick, parried over the bar for their third corner. None of these moments inspired much excitement from their travelling fans.
These are tough times for the Blantyre giants.
At half-time, Bullets players huddled at the centre, asking each other, “What’s wrong with us?” Some may have even wondered, “What’s wrong with the coaching panel?”—the same question on many fans’ minds after a subpar first half, stretched and duly punished by Blue Eagles.
At the start of the second half, Chirwa made changes to salvage the game, switching to a back three and substituting right back Yamikani Mologeni and attacker, Peter Banda for Ephraim Kondowe and Misheck Billiat
Yet the pace-strapped defensive partnership of Jovinala and Emmanuel Kaunga still inspired little confidence.
However, the changes paid off when Kondowe did what he knows best. After a well-taken shot from Paul was saved, the rebound fell to Kondowe, who brought the game level.
Afterwards, Bullets strung together a few promising passes, but solid goalkeeping, determined defending, and a bit of luck from Blue Eagles kept them from turning the game around.
At the final whistle, the players’ body language revealed their awareness of the cost of dropping two more points, having already done so in Mwanza against league returnees Red Lions and in their opening fixture away to Civil Service United. Yet, their coach was happy and satisfied.
“It was a good game,” he said. “Blue Eagles are a good team, but we managed to force a draw.”
“There’s a lot of improvement,” he went on about his team’s performance. But this season appears to be one of ups and downs for the people’s team.
Chirwa should be shouldering the blame. Even if an early-season dip was expected, Bullets’ glamour is fading into an ugly reality. It’s difficult to call such an unbalanced team title contenders.
With the current status of Bullets, midseason transfers may be nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig. Perhaps this season will be written off without resorting to panic buys.
FCB NYASA BIG BULLETS XI
24 Innocent Nyasulu; 2 Yamikani Mologeni (28 Misheck Billiat 46′), 26 Emmanuel Kaunga, 21 Andrew Jovinala (4 Blessings Mpokera 90+1′), 30 Aaron Chilipa; 8 Paul Master (C), 19 Wongani Lungu, 12 Madalitso Safuli (29 Chawanangwa Gumbo 70′); 7 Peter Banda (13 Ephraim Kondowe 46′), 11 Clever Kalambo (22 George Chaomba 70′), 9 Hassan Kajoke.
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
1 Pilirani Mapira, 31 Prince Chiumia, 17 Yankho Singo, 10 Mike Mkwate.
BLUE EAGLES FC XI
1 Precious Masamba; 3 Davie Phiri, 5 Benet Konyo, 7 Micium Mhone (99 Shamiuna Watch 87′), 9 Tonic Viyuyi, 12 Farhad Mtcheka, 14 Webster Mzunda (10 Ranken Mwale 87′), 19 Gilbert Chirwa (C), 38 Stacia Chibala, 52 Innocent Dzambira, 81 Enock Jobo (75 Ibrahim Kachere 87′).
UNUSED SUBSTITUTES
6 Geoffrey Christian Maluwa, 18 Matias Nyirenda, 25 Charles Chisala, 28 Chrispin Singano, 30 Calvin Atakwana Nazombe, 37 Madalitso Khamule
