From being a model club that everyone in Malawi would have aspired to be associated with, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets are a house on fire, burning on-and-off the pitch and a pale shadow of the trailblazing champions they have been in half a decade of dominance.
Sports soccer analysts have attributed Bullets’ struggle to administrative issues this season. Following quadruple success last season, many Bullets fans would have hoped for another good season but the People’s Team are on a free fall.
In short, they are like a sinking ship.
Inside sources confided that Bullets are sitting on a time bomb, requiring urgent action before explosion.
- Advertisement -
From the onset of the 2024 season, Bullets have been in turmoil. The tides have been so quick, from being quadruple winners in 2023 to strugglers this season.
- Advertisement -
For the first time in over five years, Bullets players boycotted training just after a 1-1 stalemate against rookies Creck Sporting Club.
As if that was not enough, High Court Sheriffs impounded the team’s bus for debts to former coach Franco Ndawa amounting to K30 million.
Then, followed the exit of chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda whose contract was not renewed at the end of the three-year contract.
On Wednesday, Bullets suspended striker Hassan Kajoke for indiscipline and also removed Precious Sambani as the club’s captain before appointing Gomezgani Chirwa and Clyde Senanji as captain and vice-captain respectively.
- Advertisement -
Bullets are also planning to reshuffle their technical panel by promoting Enos Chatama to be Kalisto Pasuwa’s assistant.
The recent events at Bullets summed up their struggle this season.
Interim Chief Executive Officer Albert Chigoga downplayed the internal squabbles.
“The focus is on the derby now,’’ Chigoga said. Sports analyst Parry Chinyama said the issues have been boiling in Bullets players for a long time.
“I think the issues have been there at Bullets for many years. But they were being kept under the carpet,” Chinyama said.
Chinyama said the body language of Bullets players this season is a true reflection that all is not well.
“The players are fighting like they did last season. Maybe the players were promised a lot but never fulfilled. This is the same team that won the quadruple last season so it is very strange,” Chinyama said.
On the pitch, Bullets have only registered four victories, eight draws and two losses in 14 matches-their worst start to the season in six years.
With one game to wind up the first round, Bullets trail leaders Silver Strikers by 16 points, five points behind second-placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
Former Flames defender Elvis Kafoteka said Bullets failed to prepare for the season.
“I think the problem is failure to bring in quality players. They had trust in the players who are still nursing injuries and some have lost form,” Kafoteka said.
Last season, Bullets won an unprecedented quadruple— winning the TNM Super League-five times on the bounce, defended the FDH Bank, won the Castel Challenge Cup and the Airtel Top 8.
