How Bullets title retention renders Malawi league 1-horse race
Nyasa Big Bullets’ 2-1 win over Dedza Dynamos over the weekend confirmed their elite TNM Super League title retention and exposed the gulf in class between them and opposition.
Striker Babatunde Adepoju and substitute Hassan Kajoke got the goals for Bullets whereas Ibrahim Sadiki scored Dedza’s consolation on Saturday.
Not only did Bullets stroll to their unprecedented 16th league championship, they also made it four on the bounce for gaffer Kalisto Pasuwa.
The Zimbabwean has now won eight league titles on the spin in his career building on the four-back-to-back he bagged with Dynamos in Harare.
This season, People’s Team as, Bullets are called, left close pursuers Blue Eagles 10 points off the pace.
Bullets are way ahead of other giants Silver Strikers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers who have won the league championship eight and seven times respectively.
That Pasuwa’s men would win the league again this season was unthinkable before the start of the season.
Afterall, Pasuwa had axed 12 seasoned players, including former Orlando Pirates striker Chiukepo Msowoya.
The former Dynamos coach settled for kids such as Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma, who proved still good enough.
Bullets retained the championship with 73 points from 30 games, two points better than last season.
BULLETS LACKING SERIOUS COMPETITION
It is clear that Bullets, who thrive on massive sponsorship from tobacco firm, Nyasa Manufacturing Company, have no meaningful competition in Malawi.
Bullets have sound governance structures with a secretariat, board, management committee then coaches.
Such a professional set-up that has cascaded down to their reserve and youth teams.
Players have enough incentives hence translating to high morale.
Eve Bullets reserve team is so good it eliminated three top-tier league teams to reach the FDH Cup final which they lost 3-1 to their seniors..
DOMINANCE EXENDED TO INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS
Bullets’ Nigerian striker Adepoju has also bagged the Golden Boot Award with 18 goals in some 26 league games.
Adepoju already won the FHD Cup Golden Boot Award with five goals.
The 26-year-old is also the favourite to win the remaining piece of silverware this season—the Airtel Top 8.
The clean sweep extended to most assists, which Mwaungulu claimed in the league as Bullets tasted defeat just once.
BAD NEWS FOR OPPONENTS
The bad news for opponents, most of which survive on handouts from well-wishers and have not sponsorship, is that Bullets have already started planning for next season.
Bullets have signed striker Maxwell Gasten on a free transfer last week after he opted against renewing his contract with Silver.
The league champions have also strengthened with midfielder Chawanangwa Gumbo who has joined from Ekwendeni Hammers.
Teams that are capable of challenging Bullets—Wanderers and Silver—look focusless as they keep changing coaches and bank on either average of recycled players.