Baka City are walking tall in town after becoming the first team to beat FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve in a competition in the Central Region, booting them out of the Champion Cup through a 5-4 post-match penalty win following a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time.
For three solid years, Bullets Reserve won every match they played in the Central Region and lifted all cups they competed for.
But the young People’s Team finally met its match at Champion Stadium in Mponela, Dowa District, during a Champion Cup quarterfinal match played before a capacity and vocal crowd on Sunday.
Bullets Reserve were the first to score through Chrispin Mapemba in the 58th minute but Robert Kolneli equalised for Baka through a penalty with three minutes remaining on the clock.
In the post-match penalties, Brian Simwayi was the hero of the day after he converted the winning kick following a miss by Bullets Reserve’s Mussa Bwanali.
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The development means Baka have joined Kalonga Rovers, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Reserve and Kamuzu Barracks Reserve in the semi-finals.
Baka Coach Dave Muyombe said the win has given them the belief that lifting the cup is possible.
“It was a difficult game. Our opponents played very well in the first half. We carefully studied their pattern of play and countered them in the second half. The secret was to ensure that we spent more time in their half.
“This is what helped us to get the equaliser and win the match through penalties. After going past Bullets Reserve, we have now started believing that it is possible to win this cup,” Muyombe said.
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Bullets Reserve Coach Enos Chatama blamed the loss on his charges’ failure to convert the chances they created.
“I am not complaining because my team played very well. Losing is part of the game. I believe everyone who came to watch this match has enjoyed it thoroughly. We were the better team but have lost because we did not use the scoring chances we created.
“I would say this was our best match in this competition but one team had to come out victorious and that team is Baka. We congratulate our opponents for going through and wish them well,” Chatama said.
The Karonga-based Baka will take on Wanderers Reserve on December 24 to decide who makes it to the final.
The other semi-final match will be between Kamuzu Barracks Reserve and Kalonga Rovers at Champion Stadium on Sunday.
