Just another day at work
Just another day at work for Bullets
The people’s team thrashed Red Lions four goals to two in a very thrilling encounter to extend their unbeaten run to sixteen matches on Sunday afternoon. The result consolidates Bullets lead on the table as they move nine points clear of second placed Blue Eagles. It was a highly contested match at the Country’s soccer cathedral as Red Lions opened the scoring just three minutes into the game to silence the vocal home crowd. Kumbukani Mwambene gave the Reds an early lead through an easy shot that unbelievably beaten Bullets goalkeeper, Owen Chaima who fumbled only to watch the ball passing between his legs into the net. Enjoying the lead, Red Lions looked calm and well composed as they dominated the play from defence to attack outplaying their opponents who were desperately knocking for an equalizer. The Big Bullets’ unbeaten run was on a huge test as they were in the game without Sankhani Mkandawire, Fischer Kondowe and Mussa Manyenje all nursing injuries. However, The People’s team didn’t wait so long to respond with an easily earned equalizer which came through a corner in the sixteenth minute.
Perhaps the Reds defence blinked as Yamikani Fodya curled a perfect ball into the box which found James Chilapondwa who decided to forward the ball to an unmarked Chiukepo Msowoyo who accepted the blessing by killing the ball into the net. Surely the only way Zomba soldiers could have escaped the worst was if Chiukepo and Chilapondwa crashed into each other on the hurry of receiving the blessing as defenders left both of them completely unmarked in front of goal. The Red Army resurrected five minutes after the equalizer when Chikondi Likwemba notched in a second for the People’s team. The goal came after Yamikani Fodya ‘the headmaster’ made an excellent run from the centre and was brought down by Kumbukani Mwambene just outside the box.
Chiukepo Nsowoya took low free-kick which hit the Red Lions defence and the ball found Likwemba who made no mistake but notching the ball brilliantly into the net. In twenty-seventh minute the Burundian, Aimable Niyikiza made his Big Bullets League debut as he came in to replace the injured Chiukepo Nsowoya. Only ten minutes later Owen Chaima was also stretched out of the pitch in pain after breaking a coral bone. As the Ambulance carrying Chaima to hospital drove off the Kamuzu stadium gates, Henry Kabichi banged a fantastic long range free-kick just outside center circle leaving Clement Mlombwa, the Reds shot stopper completely beaten. The crowd was left speechless as Kabichi run to the right side of the pitch to celebrate the Bullets’ third. Mphatso Ngwira and Innocent Bokosi, the current Super league top goal scorer gave the Bullets substitute goalkeeper, Chimwemwe Kumkawa a tough time in the early minutes of the second half forcing the Bullets coach, Loyd Nkhwazi to strengthen his team with a defender as Chiku Kanyenda was introduced at the expense of Chikondi Likwemba.
But the move proved useless just a minute later when the Reds came back in the game with a Steven Ziba goal which came when Chimwemwe Kumkawa rushed into the pitch to stop the ball in the process leaving the goal empty and Ziba beautifully taped the Reds’ second. However the dance didn’t last long for the Zomba outfit as Bullets went further ahead 27 minutes in the second half through a James Chilapondwa penalty which came after goalkeeper, Clement Mlombwa brought down Macpharen Ngwira in the box after he cleverly dribbled past him and had the whole goal was at his mercy before Mlombwa violently stopped him. It was a clear penalty and the People’s team long-serving member James ‘Terminator’ Chilapondwa made no mistake from the spot.
Yamikani Fodya will be joining the Flames camp with a well deserved man of the match award to his name as he was the architecture of Bullets’ three goals. Eighteen minutes from time Red Lions was beaten and Bullets was satisfied. The rest was a cheering time for the crowd. The whole stadium was in a red regalia provoking questions as to why Bullets remains a poor team while commanding such a magnificent following? Perhaps Bullets fans needs learn paying at the gate. The loss means Red Lions who will be back on the same venue next Saturday to face Be Forward in Standard bank quarter final have lost their away unbeaten record in the Country’s top flight. Meanwhile Big Bullets fans have every right to dance Mafo’s “Bullets Ayayaya” hit. They are unbeaten in 2015-16 TNM Super League.
Precious Chilundu,
Lawilink sports reporter.
