While FCB Nyasa Big Bullets continue to look pretty on the Sapitwa summit of TNM Super League, Silver Strikers, with a spring in their step, continue to bounce.
But the two have met before. In fact, twice, with Bullets getting a scalp of Silver on both occasions.
However, the match-up is ominously poised against Bullets at their own fortress while Silver are basking in the continental limelight and spotlight. Could Bullets throw away this match?
From what we have seen so far, bullets have frailties. Silver can exploit to their own advantage.
The crocodile scare
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets tried to zig-zag their way to survive Karonga United, but as they say, zigzagging is a myth, especially when against crocodiles.
At half time, Bullets threw away a 2-1 lead to salvage a desperate 3-3 stalemate, and the fans were boiled over. The rest is already in the public domain.
With an attack-capacity team involving Peter Banda, Mike Mkwate, Wongani Lungu, Chikumbutso Salima, and Ephraim Kondowe Bullets still huffed and puffed, giving away leads twice, and ultimately draw against inferior Karonga United.
This outcome was only prevalent because Karonga were resilient as they stood toe to toe at Kamuzu Stadium, and Bullets could not muster.
On three occasions that Bullets have lost, a trove of evidence has been collected that shows that Bullets are dumb, doltish and obtuse when they face a team that keeps its shape and structure and are disciplined all the way through.
Bullets showed a pack mentality as they over-relied on Chikumbutso Salima to make darting runs and carve open Karonga United on transitions or on build-up play but to no avail.
Remember, he is the second top goal scorer and he also leads on assists tally.
The Blue Eagles Loss
The capitulation to Blue Eagles exposed frailties deep to the eye that could derail the TNM Super League project for Bullets. Again, Civil Service United pressed high and closed down spaces with intensity and Bullets with all their prowess, could not manoeuvre within pockets of spaces to mount and stage any attacks towards scoring.
When teams set up like this and are gung-ho against bullets, a recipe is prepared towards losing.
Tonic Viyuyi, Micium Mhone, and Gilbert Chirwa defended from the front with a high-energy intensity, and bullets panicked, ultimately leading to unforced errors and turn overs.
The Civil Service loss
Another Achilles’ Heel for Bullets is the penchant of Peter Mponda to chop and change personnel in the defence line.
It is only Blessings Mpokera who is static in defence and thus has cost them on chemistry.
Additionally, it is only Mpokera andAndrew Jovinala who are taller, which makes bullets vulnerable to set pieces when you have Nickson Mwase and Andrew Joseph in the mix from Silver. Indeed, Bullets lost to Civil from set pieces.
Furthermore, Civil hurried, hustled, and harassed Bullets, which limited space for Bullets manoeuvring. Civil also closed down flanks as Yamikani Mologeni and Henry Chiwaya could not overlap or underlap, which affected service delivery to Babatunde Adepoju. Wongani Lungu, too, was contained as Bullets faltered.
The derby loss
Indeed, this season, Bullets registered their initial loss to their archrivals, Mighty Wanderers, which cost them bragging rights on the part of supporters which is crucial. The one-nil loss was a resultant of Mike Mkwate, Lloyd Aron, and Yankho Singo being neutralised by Blessings Singini and Felix Zulu.
Wanderers were on the front foot from the outset, which affected Bullets’ grip of the central midfield and is also a launch-pad for Bullets’ attacks.
Ultimately, pedigree and home ground advantage ceased to be currency for Blantyre based teams, including Bullets.
Set-pieces, lack of space mavericks, and a ‘pack mentality’ could be easy marks for Silver Strikers and make Bullets sitting ducks for Silver.
