By Mabvuto Kambuwe:
TNM Super League defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets returned from the Central Region with just one point out of a possible six over the weekend.
Bullets wrapped up their tour Sunday by sharing spoils with Masters Security in a barren draw at Dedza Stadium just 24 hours after losing 1-0 to Kamuzu Barracks (KB) at Civo Stadium.
It was another disappointing performance for Bullets and their successful title defence is surely under threat.
The People’s Team has now gone down to position five on the log table with 19 points, seven behind leaders, KB, after playing 11 games.
In Sunday’s game, Bullets Coach Kallisto Pasuwa made some changes to the side that lost to KB.
Bright Munthali, Luke Chima, Henry Kabichi and Enerst Petro were in the starting line-up as Mike Mkwate, Peter Banda, Chiukepo Msowoya and Chimwemwe Idana were relegated to the bench.
But Bullets could only manage a point against Masters who lost two consecutive games including a 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Be forward Wanderers last week.
Unlike on Saturday, Bullets provided a real threat to Masters but goalkeeper Chimwemwe Kumkwawa was on top of his game to deny them with fine saves that earned him the Man-of-the-Match accolade.
Masters managed to find the back of the net in the second half through Juma Yatina but the goal was ruled out for offside for the match to end goalless.
Masters Coach Abasi Makawa said his charges displayed a much improved performance after two consecutive defeats.
“I told my players to forget our problems and play football. The result is not what we wanted but a point is better than none,” Makawa said.
Bullets Coach Calisto Pasuwa admitted that pressure is mounting on him.
“It is worrisome to get just one point from two games. But we played better than yesterday. Pressure is always there as a coach when results are not good but we will get out of this very soon,” Pasuwa said.
In another high profile game played Sunday, Blue Eagles claimed a 2-1 victory over Silver Strikers to hand the Central Bankers their second defeat of the season.
Foster Biton hammered a brace to secure maximum points for Eagles whereas Michael Tetteh netted for Silver.
The win took the cops to position four with 20 points from 11 games whereas Silver are sixth with 18 points from 10 games.
In Blantyre,TN Stars recovered to claim a 1-0 victory over Ntopwa at Kamuzu Stadium just 24 hours after losing 4-1 to Wanderers.
Civil Sporting Club returned from the Northern Region with four points after a goal-less draw against Moyale at Mzuzu Stadium.
Civil had defeated Mzuni 2-1 at the same venue on Saturday.
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