By Chisomo Phiri
Silver Strikers Head Coach, Peter Mponda says they gave away the game to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in their defeat in the NBS Bank Charity Shield Cup on Saturday afternoon at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
The game ended 7-6 on the penalties after playing a goalless draw in the regulation time.
Speaking to reporters after the game,Mponda said:”We gave away the game.There were some minutes where the game was on us and even during the penalty shoot-out, we had the chances of winning it.
“However, I’m happy with the performance of the game, the boys played well.”
On his part, Bullets’ second assistant coach, Heston Munthali,expressed excitement with how the team performed and and said he is looking forward to have a wonderful season.
“It was a good game, the boys gave it all, as I said earlier on, we did not have all boys in our preparations due to National team camp and others are still injured but they worked very hard and won the game.” Said Munthali.
During the match, the People’s team started on a high note after Precious Phiri shot wide before Gift Chunga’s first shot on goal went over the bar on 20th minute then Chikooka denied Phiri with a fine save three minutes later.
The Bankers came very close after Katinji hit the post on 26th minute before denied by Nyasulu seconds later as the Bankers dominated the final minutes with Chikooka denying Chikumbutso Salima on 43rd minute.
Bullets mentor, Callisto Pasuwa introduced Ernest Petro and Matthews Masamba for Gumbo and Phodo before Silver replacing the injured Mwase with Innocent Shema then Gift Chunga’s goal was ruled out for an offside on 55th minute.
Emmanuel Muyira replaced Fodya before Bullets introducing Hassan Kajoke, Ephraim Kondowe and Precious Sambani for Babatunde, Mapemba and Salima and Phiri had a shot saved with Nickson Nyasulu replacing Singo on the last minute.
In the penalties, Sambani blasted his penalty over the bar before Kajoke, Phiri, Kondowe and Nyasulu scored while Katinji, Shema, Idana and Paipi scoring only for Duncan Nyoni to win for the Bankers but he missed.
Mpokera and Mujuru scored for the People’s team same as Lameck and Muyira for Silver then Ernest Petro gave a chance to Silver Strikers to win with his miss but Gift Chunga missed again.
Yamikani Mologeni scored for Bullets and Innocent Nyasulu saved Chikondi Kamanga’s penalty kick to give Bullets the victory.
Up next is the TNM Super League as Bullets travel to Dedza to play Dedza Dynamos whereas Silver are at home playing Chitipa United in the first week.
