The Defending TNM Super League Champions, FCB Nyasa Bullets, and Lilongwe giants, Silver Strikers shared the spoils following their 1-1 draw in their opening fixture of the 2023 TNM Super League season.
The high-intensity game played on Saturday in Lilongwe at Bingu National Stadium had plenty to offer in terms of chances but it was the Bullets who opened the scoring with their first shot on goal through Lanjesi Nkhoma in the 40th minute. Silver Strikers remained relentless and Nickson Mwase finally equalized in the 50th minute.
In his first official league match on the Silver Strikers Dugout, Head Coach Pieter De Jongh hailed his team for good performance and acknowledged more work is to be done.
“1-1 is good is a result, there was a lot of control we played passing good football which means we are on the right track because we want to play for titles.
“We had problems with their center backs and they were able to score on the counter-attack however I tried to change the tactics after the break,” De Jongh said.
De Jongh further noted that Bullets is a good team with quality players but stressed the need for referees to officiate better after observing strange decisions in the game.
Meanwhile, Bullets Coach, Kalitso Pasuwa said his troops handled the high-intensity game very well and is hopeful they will look back to improve from the mistakes made during the game.
“The opposition played very well but mostly in their own half and we were trying to catch them on the break most of the time and we eventually caught them on the break and scored.
“We have been conceding set pieces, we have been having these problems of defending lateral ball therefore I think the outcome of the game is a fair result and we shall do our homework,” Pasuwa said.
The Bullets Gaffer further outlined Chawanangwa Gumbo and Lanjesi Nkhoma’s efforts to impact the game positively.
Silver had 8 corners and conceded 13 fouls while Bullets took 7 corners with 10 fouls.
In other matches played on Saturday, April 16, Mighty Tigers beat Extreme FC 1-0 with a goal from George Chaomba at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre, while Moyale Barracks draw 1-1 against Karonga United with goals by Raphael Phire for Barracks and Josiah Duwa for Karonga, at Mzuzu Stadium.
Mafco defeated Chitipa United 2-1 with Mafco’s goals from Walusungu Mpata and Bernard Chimayimba while Chitipa scored through Stimela Muyira’s penalty at Chitowe Stadium.
