By Burnett Munthali
Silver Strikers’ head coach, Peter Mponda, expressed his disappointment following his team’s narrow 1-0 loss to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the final match of the 2024 Airtel Top 8, held at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. Despite acknowledging that luck often plays a role in football, Mponda insisted that Bullets didn’t do enough to deserve the win.
“I don’t believe Bullets did anything extraordinary to justify this victory,” Mponda said after the game, adding that Silver Strikers remain strong despite some commentary suggesting they should be unbeatable. Mponda defended his squad’s performance, stating they had prepared well and played solidly despite the result.
Bullets’ coach, Kalisto Pasuwa, countered by praising his players for their focus and teamwork, especially after losing to Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium due to defensive lapses. “The team followed our strategy, addressing the defensive gaps that cost us in the previous game,” Pasuwa explained.
However, Pasuwa voiced concerns about player safety, highlighting a lack of adequate officiating. He cited the injury to player Chrispin Mapemba, pointing out that despite the severity of the foul, the referee issued no yellow card, an oversight he feels leads to an accumulation of injuries on his team.
With this victory, Bullets retained the Airtel Top 8 trophy for a second consecutive year, marking their third championship after wins in 2021 and 2023.
