Nyasa Big Bullets won the FAM Charity Shield with a deserved 2-1 victory over Blantyre rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers on Sunday at the Bingu National Stadium.
Maxwell Gasten Phodo gave Bullets a 1-0 lead at half time before Stanley Biliati doubled the lead midway in the second half while the Nomads scored their consolation goals through Misheck Botoman towards the end of the match, but how did the players fare at Bingu National Stadium? And who was your top performer?
FCB Nyasa Bullets
GK: RICHARD CHIMBAMBA – 5/10
He could never have guessed it would be such a quiet match. He had no trouble stopping the few shots that were launched at him. A nice save to stop Vincent Nyangule from equalizing late in the second half. While he had no chance of saving Nomad’s only goal from Botoman, he had pretty solid game.
RB: BLESSINGS MPOKERA – 7/10
He displayed amazing ability during one-on-one situations and kept Wisdom Mpinganjira silent throughout the majority of the match. He had clean footwork and tidy ball-movement that aided him on the defense. Overall, a good showing from the Flames youngster.
LB: ALICK LUNGU – 7/10
He was most likely one of the best performers of the day. While he struggled to track back quickly to his leftback position when overlaps in the first five minutes of the match, he soon grew from it and had quite an impressive match. He was very solid defensively, while also being powerful on offensive keeping his opponent Gaddie Chirwa at bay.
CB: CLYDE SANEJI – 8/10
The Kenyan defender was calm and composed throughout the entire match, controlling every Wanderers attack. He had an excellent partnership with Nickson Nyasulu and also aided the attack when called upon. He was able to make the assist to Phodo who scored a rebound from Saneji’s header.
CB: NICKSON NYASULU – 7/8
The FCB Nyasa Bullets skipper of the day had an excellent control over their half of the field. He, along with Saneji, was able to snuff out every attack Wanderers launched. He led an organized back four and won every battle in the air.
DM: FRANK WILLARD – 8/10
Willard had good anticipation at the back of the Bullet midfield and was able to cut off space from the likes of Felix Zulu. He aided the defense in that manner while also making nice tidy passes throughout the midfield.
HM: ENERST PETRO – 6/10
Petro was an essential part of Bullets’ domination of the midfield, surging the team forward on the counter-attack. But at times was too slow to release the ball in the final third.
AM: MIKE MKWATE 8/10
Mkwate seemed to be two steps ahead of all the Wanderers players today, finding open spaces and holes everywhere. He made a series of impressive passes throughout the course of the match.
L-FWD: LANJESI NKHOMA – 7/10
Some really nice dribbling and caused havoc whenever he run at Wanderers’ back line. He was replaced towards the end of the first half after picking an injury.
R-FWD: PATRICK MWAUNGULU – 6/10
Mwaungulu looked very good in the first half on the right flank of the People’s team until Mighty Wanderers substituted their leftback Emmanuel Nyirenda. In the second half he was quite before being replaced by Stanley Biliati.
C-FWD: MAXWELL GASTEN PHODO – 7/10
Phodo had an impressive match, scoring first for the People’s Team. He made good runs and combine well with fellow forwards Mwaungulu and Nkhoma.
SUB: YAMIKANI FODYA -(80′ for Lungu) 4/10 – Actually not that bad. He covered well the left back position.
SUB: CHAWANAGWA GUMBO (80′ for Mkwate) 3/10 – got very few opportunities to do anything.
SUB: RIGHTEOUS BANDA (80′ for Gasten Phodo) 3/10 – he came late into the game. Nothing much from him
SUB: STANLEY BILIATI (71′ for Mwaungulu) 5/10 – he made a brilliant tap in to seal Bullets’ victory and helped Bullets to keep piling pressure on Wanderers towards the end of the match.
SUB: ANTONY MFUNE (44′ for Nkhoma) 5/10 – not much from him but he was involved in Bullets’ second goal as he intercepted the ball from Lawrence Chaziya before Phodo collected it to assist Billiati.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers
GK: WILLIAM THOLE – 4/10
The towering goalkeeper could do almost nothing to tame the continuous flow of Bullets crosses and two of them resulted to the People’s team goals. He was also an able to start moves and had a lot of misplacing passes.
RB: STANLEY SANUDI – 6/10
Struggled at times up against Alick Lungu, who got better of him several times in the first half but he improved in the second half when he started overlapping and spraying some dangerous balls in the box through set pieces.
LB: EMMANUEL NYIRENDA – 2/10
He was started to fill the void left by injured Isaac Kaliat, put in the worst performance. He failed to contain Lanjesi Nkhoma and Mwaungulu on the left flank and he was the first player to be substituted in the first half.
CB: LAWRENCE CHAZIYA – 5/10
Tracked Gasten Phodo when he dropped deep but he was unable to start moves from the back and he was responsible for the second ball as he lost the possession in the final third to hand Bullets an opportunity to increase their lead.
CB: MIRACLE GABEYA – 4/10
Likewise Chaziya he was unable to start moves, struggled with Mwaungulu and Nkhoma pace and dribbling and had too much temper towards the officiation which led to his booking in the first half.
DM: ALFRED MANYOZO – 5/10
The veteran Midfielder struggled to impose himself in central midfield, with Willard, Mkwate and Petro dominating proceedings for much if the contest. Replaced by Cholopi for the final 45 minutes.
HM: FELIX ZULU – 5/10
Also struggled to make much of a contribution in the first half, he stayed deep in his half instead of going forward and he made so many back passes. He improved in the second half but still there were no progressive passes from him.
AM: MPHATSO KAMANGA – 4/10
Struggled to get grip on Bullets’ midfield and he had much trouble with Mkwate and Petro throughout his time on the field. Overall it was not the best performance we’ve seen from him.
R-FWD: GADDIE CHIRWA: – 7/10
A nice threat on the counter but found it hard to get as many touches as he would have liked. His side was well monitored by Lungu with the support from Saneji. But he improved in the second half and provided an assist to Botoman’s goal.
C-FWD: CHRISTOPHER KUMWEMBE – 4/10
Not his day, he was very quiet and struggled to make much of an impact. Had one attempt blocked by Saneji but otherwise unable to influence the game.
L-FWD: WISDOM MPINGANJIRA – 5/10
Felt a little isolated in the entire first half and he was nowhere to be seen until second half when he switched to the left back position where he managed to close down Mwaungulu but Billiati’s introduction revived troubles to him.
SUB: MISHECK BOTTOMAN (40′ for Emmanuel Nyirenda) 7/10
Replaced Nyirenda in the final minutes of the first half and he switched positions with Mpinganjira to play in the left wing. He showed impressive composure in the second half and managed to score Nomads goal. Probably Mighty Wanderers best player of the day.
SUB: PETER CHOLOPI (45′ for Manyozo) – 3/10
So many back passes from the defender who was deployed to take defending midfield role. His introduction wasn’t impactful.
SUB: VITUMBIKO KUMWENDA (68′ for Mphatso Kamanga) 5/10
His presence alone helped in the midfield battle as Wanderers took over the control of the game before conceding the second goal.
SUB: VINCENT NYANGULU (78′ for Kumwembe) – 4/10
A nice threat on set pieces but found it hard to get as many touches.
