FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Coach Kalitso Pasuwa has refused to throw in the towel in the TNM Super League title race after his charges were held to a one-all draw by Moyale Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium Sunday.
Pasuwa was hoping for a perfect start to the second round to narrow the gap with leaders and hot title contenders Silver Strikers.
Instead, the Zimbabwean mentor was left with more questions than answers after his troops huffed and puffed but failed to outsmart resilient Moyale.
As crestfallen Bullets players matched out of the Kamuzu Stadium, it became obvious that the People’s Team was giving up on their aspirations for the championship, which Pasuwa has won for five successive times since his arrival in 2018.
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Bullets are fifth on the table with 24 points from 16 games while Silver dictate events with 40 points, nine ahead of second-placed Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
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At this moment, the defending champions have won five games, drawn nine and lost twice.
However, Pasuwa said the title race was far from over and that they would not mind how their opponents are performing.
“We, as defending champions, must not look much at what our opponents are doing. We need to sort our house to come up with results. The moment we look at the other guys, we will end up not fulfilling the fixtures.
“We are struggling the way we were playing and at times we struggle to keep possession. We are also failing to take chances,” Pasuwa said.
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His counterpart Pritchard Mwansa said it was an open game.
“It tough game as both sides created chances,” Mwansa, whose charges are ninth on the log table with 23 points also from 16 games, said.
During the match, striker Gasten Maxwell Phodo gave Bullets the lead in the 35th minute after getting the ball from overlapping left-back Chrispin Mapemba.
However, the Lions of Kaning’ina showed their resilience when they equalised a minute into added time of the first half through Peter Ng’ambi.
Towering defender Maneno Nyoni, a former Bullets player, stood firm at the back and intercepted passes to deny the red and white side victory.
After the match, dejected Bullets players could hardly do their traditional warm-down exercise as their fitness trainer Fischer Kondowe tried to encourage them with some jokes following a bad day at the office.
Meanwhile, former Wanderers midfielder Thom Milanzie has said this season is proving tough due to several factors including K100 million prize money.
“Firstly, Bullets should expect more tough games because they have been dominating the league for five seasons. Secondly, Bullets won an unprecedented quadruple last season, which makes others green with envy.
“Finally, this season’s champions will pocket K100 million, up from K40 million. Every team will want to win this amount. At this moment, Silver are hot title favourites followed by Wanderers,” Milanzie said while hailing TNM plc for hiking sponsorship, saying it has stirred competition in the league.
In other games played yesterday, Kamuzu Barracks and Mighty Tigers drew 0-0 at Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji while Stain Malata was on the score sheet as Mafco beat Fomo 1-0 at Mulanje Park Stadium.
