FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have faced Football Association of Malawi’s angry side as they have been slapped with a MK4 million fine after being found guilty of misconduct in the Castel Challenge Cup semifinal match against Mzuzu City Hammers on February 8, 2026.
Before a ball was even kicked, Mzuzu City Hammers’ technical bench was reportedly sprinkled with large chunks of salt — an age-old ritual believed by some to neutralise perceived voodoo from opponents. The Hammers’ camp protested and questioned the act, but ultimately sat on the same bench and played on, their focus tested before the match had truly begun.
But the salt was only the beginning.
As the teams headed into the second half, drama spilled from the terraces. From the Bullets’ end that faces Ndirande Township — popularly known as Biafra, the heartbeat of the club’s support — a fan descended onto the pitch. His target appeared clear: the goal that Hammers’ goalkeeper Innocent Kamwambi was expected to defend after the break. The act raised immediate concerns of match interference.
Stadium stewards reacted swiftly, chasing and apprehending the intruder as he attempted to climb back into the stands. However, order was short-lived. Bullets supporters, reportedly led by their national supporters’ chairperson, Mr. Chingeni Gumbala Kadam’manja, intercepted the stewards, overpowered them, and aided the fan’s escape — right in the open.
The chaos escalated further.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Communications Officer Collins Nsunza was allegedly threatened by the same group of supporters as he attempted to restrain the unsporting conduct.
Reports also circulated that FAM Competitions Officer David Daniel Dauda was verbally targeted, with supporters issuing threats for reasons only known to them. All of this unfolded under the watch of FAM officials, including Jossam Osman Namwera, the general coordinator delegated to oversee matchday operations.
The ugliest chapter, however, was still to come. A member of the officiating team — drawn from a crew led by centre referee Zimba Easter, assisted by Clemence Kanduku, Samuel Fudzulani, and fourth official Rose Zimba — was reportedly assaulted by Bullets supporters inside the dressing room area, a restricted zone meant to guarantee the safety of match officials.
On February 10, FAM charged Bullets and seven supporters on various counts of misconduct and gave them 48 hours to respond to the charge sheets. However, only Bullets and the club’s Supporters’ Chairperson Chingeni Agumbala submitted their responses, while the other cited individuals did not, according to a statement released by the Association.
The FAM Disciplinary Committee reviewed the allegations against Bullets through match official reports and video and photographic footage, and a decision to sanction Bullets and its seven supporters was made.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were found guilty on three counts of misconduct: violence and hooliganism, assaulting and bullying match officials, and bringing the game into disrepute.
The Committee determined that the club failed to control its supporters, who obstructed the visiting team’s dressing room access, used abusive language, interfered with security operations, and were involved in incidents affecting match officials and the competition area.
“As a result, the club has been fined a total of K4 million, broken down as follows: K1 million for violence and hooliganism, K1 million for assaulting and bullying match officials, and K2 million for bringing the game into disrepute.
“The full amount must be settled before the club’s next official match,” reads the statement in part.
Agumbala banned from football for two years
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Supporters’ Chairperson Chingeni Agumbala has been banned from entering any stadium where football is being played and has also been restricted from participating in any football-related activities for two years.
Agumbala, together with Shaibu Woyera, Trouble Ndikifa Kapito, Alick Tsegula, Ganizani Baba, and Dyton Bello, were found guilty on two counts of bullying opponents, obstructing security operations, and inciting violence.
Their ban is effective February 19, 2026, and the club has been ordered to ensure enforcement of the ban.
Separately, Fred Sherrif was found guilty of assaulting and bullying opponents as well as tampering with the competition area.
The Committee established that he invaded the competition area and poured liquid substances on Mzuzu City Hammers goalkeeper Innocent Kamwambi and on the goalposts. He has also been handed a two-year ban effective February 19, 2026.
The FAM Competitions Committee stated that the sanctions were imposed in line with the Castel Challenge Cup Rules and Regulations and the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Chingeni Agumbala has been working as the club’s supporters’ committee general treasurer since 2017, after being elected during elections held in Zomba.
Agumbala, who is the owner of Agumbala FC, was promoted to chairperson of the supporters’ committee after Stone Mwamadi was fired from his position for allegedly being involved in forcing former Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Director General George Kasakula to apologise to President Peter Mutharika.
Agumbala has served as the club’s national supporters’ chairman for less than four months.
