Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
Former Zimbabwe coach Kalisto Pasuwa helped his Malawian side Nyasa Big Bullets end an eight-year jinx at the weekend when they progressed to the second round of the Caf Champions League for the first time since 2015.
Bullets beat Equatorial Guinea champions Dragon FC 1-0 at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe on Sunday, to book a date with former African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second round.
Pasuwa and his charges advanced to the next level of the competition 3-0 on aggregate after winning the reverse fixture 2-0 in Malabo last week.
The first leg of the second round encounter has been slated for September 16 at the Bingu National Stadium.
Pasuwa praised his troops for showing great character in the two-legged encounter. The ex-Dynamos man is now looking forward to the clash with TP Mazembe.
“We created several chances but we were a bit wasteful in front of goal. But the good thing is that we are in the second round. So we just have to prepare well for the big match against Mazembe,” Pasuwa said.
Despite dominating the domestic league for the past four seasons, in which Pasuwa guided the title on the bounce, Bullets have struggled to make an impression on the continent.
They have failed to make it past the first hurdle. Pasuwa’s initial sojourn with the Malawians in the 2018-19 edition ended in a preliminary round penalty shootout agony after playing a 1-1 aggregate stalemate with Gor Mahia of Kenya.
Bullets went on to lose the encounter 4-3 after the shootout.
Zimbabwean champions FC Platinum inflicted more pain the next season when Mapeza’s men ran out 3-2 aggregate winners.
Nyasa Big Bullets withdrew from the 2020-21 Caf Champions League citing financial constraints but returned in the 2021-22 season. They also crashed out in the first round, after going down 2-3 to South African side AmaZulu, then coached by Bafana Bafana Benni McCarthy.
But things are looking promising in the current campaign after beating Dragons FC of Equatorial Guinea comprehensively.
The weekend triumph was key as Bullets broke an eight-year jinx of failing to reach the second round of the competition since 2015.
The side returned to continental football following Pasuwa’s arrival in 2018 and after four failed attempts, Bullets broke the first hurdle jinx to go beyond the preliminary round tie in the Caf Champions League.
Forward Ephraim Kondowe came from the bench to grab the winner for Pasuwa’s side in front of a huge crowd.
According to reports from Malawi, “the atmosphere was terrific in Lilongwe, with blaring car horns and red and white flags the common feature.
“The capital was painted red and white and no one could blame the ecstatic fans who had waited eight years for this great moment to come. The fans turned up in large numbers with the hope of seeing Bullets win with a cricket score but the visitors were solid at the back.
“However, Bullets could have scored more than one goal in the first half but lack of composure upfront cost them.”
Bullets finished the game with 10 men after one of their senior players Yamikani Fodya was shown a red card for fouling a
Dragon striker on the edge of the box.
After the expulsion, Pasuwa brought in Blessings Mpokera for midfielder Frank Willard.
Towards the end of the match, Kenneth Pasuwa (who is Pasuwa’s son) and Nickson Nyasulu were also introduced for Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma.
“The players played with determination and worked hard. It was not an easy game. I am happy that now we are progressing to the next round. After so many disappointments, I am really happy,” said Pasuwa.
Bullets will now face five-time continental club champions TP Mazembe, with the first leg scheduled for between September 15 and 17 at home and the return leg slated for September 29 – October 1. This is definitely going to be a big match for Pasuwa and his charges.
Online Reporter