FCB Nyasa Bullets on Saturday defended the NBS Bank Charity Shield after defeating Silver Strikers 7-6 on post-match penalties at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Bullets goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu was the hero of the day after saving Gift Chunga and Chikondi Kamanga’s spot kicks as the People’s Team claimed the seventh successive Charity Shield.
Silver coach Peter Mponda, who was eyeing his first trophy at the Area 47 outfit, featured a full-strength squad while his mentor Kallisto Pasuwa rested most of his stars and opted for fringe players.
The Bankers should have wrapped up the game in regulation time, but they failed to utilise their chances. Bullets also survived due to Nyasulu’s agility and situational awareness.
Silver forward Binwell Katinji and Duncan Nyoni were also jittery in front of goal as they wasted a couple of scoring opportunities while Mark Fodya wasted a good opportunity in the 39th minute from a set piece just outside the 18-yard.
Bullets came dangerously close to scoring through Chikumbutso Salima and Maxwell Gasten Phodo, but they were both denied by alert Silver goalkeeper George Chikooka.
In the second-half, Bullets’ Ernest Petro and Mathews Masamba came in for Chawanangwa Gumbo and Phodo.
Hassan Kajoke and Ephraim Kondowe came in for Babatunde Adepoju and Chrispin Mapemba while Silver’s Innocetn Shema and Emmanuel Muyira came in for Fodya and Nickson Mwase.
Bullets’s Precious Sambani and Nickson Nyasulu came in for injured Salima and Yankho Singo.
However, the two sides could not still find a way to unlock each other’s defence.
In post-match penalties, Sambani and Ernest Petro missed but Bullets recovered and converted through Hassan Kajoke, Precious Phiri, Ephraim Kondowe, Nickson Nyasulu, Blessings Mpokera, Colin Mujuru and Yamikani Mologeni.Silver converted their spot kicks through Katinji, Shema, Chimwemwe Idana, Maxwell Paipi, MacDonald Lameck and Emmanuel Muyira while Duncan Nyoni hit the post before Nyasulu rose to the occasion to save Kamanga and Chunga’s spot kicks.
In a post match interview Bullets assistant coach Heston Munthali praised his boys for a ‘job well done.”
Despite the loss, Mponda took positives from the game, saying it was an encouraging display from his players.
