Malawi's Nyasa Bullets coach Pasuwa relieved, but not impressed after victory over rival

Wanderers and Bullets players in action during Sunday's 2024 FDH Bank Cup. (Photo by Bobby Kabango )

Zimbabwean coach Kalisto Pasuwa can now breathe a sigh of relief after his team defeated their rivals, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, and advanced to the FDH Bank Cup quarterfinals on Sunday.

Pasuwa was under pressure because FCB Nyasa Big Bullets had only won one league game in the previous two months.

Prior to yesterday’s match, Bullets management made several changes, including suspending striker Hassan Kajoke, removing the armband from captain Precious Sambani, and bringing in Reserve Team coach Enos Chatama to assist Pasuwa.

A lot was said leading up to the match against Wanderers, but Pasuwa eventually defeated former Malawi national team coach Meck Mwase who is Wanderers’ head coach.

The match ended 2-1 in favour of Bullets. Nigerian striker Babatunde Adepoju scored both of the defending champions’ goals, while Cameroon striker Sama Tanjong scored for the Wanderers.

Despite the win, Pasuwa is not yet impressed with his charges: “It is not the Bullets we know,” he admitted.

“We scored two and sat back to protect them; a win can motivate the boys. You know, when we were losing games, in the dressing room, it was as if we were coming from a funeral. It is my hope that we will be back soon when our senior players are back from the injuries,” he said.

Mwase blamed his goalkeeper, Dalitso Khungwa, and also his defenders saying they made a lot of avoidable mistakes.