Big Bullets make food poisoning claims after loss to Simba
Malawi champions Nyasa Big Bullets have claimed that food poisoning contributed to their 2-0 loss to Simba in Tanzania on Sunday.
Bullets succumbed to Moses Phiri’s goals for Simba in the CAF Champions League preliminary round second-leg match.
WHAT BULLETS’ NYIRENDA SAID
Bullets Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Suzgo Nyirenda told Malawi’s The Nation newspaper that some of their key players felt dizzy moments before the match.
“The food poisoning happened after the match coordination had taken place.
In actual fact, we realized that some players were feeling dizzy and opening bowels before we left the hotel for the match venue,” he is quoted as saying.
Nyirenda said they were not blaming a particular individual or body for the ordeal because they do not have the evidence yet.
“At this point, we do not want to point a finger at anyone, neither are we saying it was our opponents because we do not have such evidence until the process is finalized,” he is added.
Nyirenda said hospital tests rendered credence to their food poisoning suspicion.
The TNM Super League champions have since demanded a report from a hotel that accommodated them in Dar es Salaam and lodged a complaint to CAF.
THE PLAYERS AFFECTED
Striker Babatunde Adepoju and defender Alick Lungu were among the affected players who were rushed to hospital.
Coach Kalisto Pasuwa said his game-plan was affected by the illness of the players, including main Nigerian striker Adepoju who started from the bench.
“Unfortunately, my boys were not okay, they were weak and dizzy.
And I am not sure what they ate, so I was forced to make those changes,” the Zimbabwean coach told Bullets website.
The defeat at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium condemned the Blantyre-based giants out of the race 4-0 on aggregate.
Bullets lost by a similar margin in the first leg at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe the previous weekend.
Football Association of Malawi spokesperson Gomezgani Zakazaka has since said they were waiting for a report from the leader of delegation.
“But according to the rules and regulations, the visiting team, in this case Bullets, is responsible for booking for accommodation and food,” he said.
Food poisoning refers to an illness caused by eating food that is contaminated by viruses, parasites, bacteria or harmful chemicals.