King Kali bags another gong

Sports Editor

TRAILBLAZING coach Kalisto Pasuwa feels his success with Malawi Super League side Nyasa Big Bullets will continue to put pressure on the team to achieve more in the upcoming 2023 season, which he expects to be even tougher.

Pasuwa was last week crowned the TNM Super League Coach of the Season for 2022.

His team clinched a record fourth successive championship title after amassing a record 73 points, surpassing the previous milestone of 71 points they had set in his debut season in 2018.

Their nearest rivals, Blue Eagles, had 10 fewer points than them.

Pasuwa also guided his men to two cup titles last year — the FDH Cup and Charity Shield — and just missed out on an unprecedented quadruple when losing 5-4 in a penalty shootout with Silver Strikers in the Airtel Cup final.

The former Zimbabwe and Dynamos coach was, however, magnanimous in his moment of triumph and dedicated the gong to his lieutenants in the technical department.

Apart from the cash prize that comes with the Coach of the Year award, Pasuwa was also given a housing stand in Blantyre.

“I would like to thank my supporting staff, who worked tirelessly throughout the season for us to get the desired results. I dedicate the award to the whole technical team; this award is for us,’’ Pasuwa told The Sunday Mail Sport.

The veteran gaffer, who also blazed the trail with Dynamos, as well as senior and Under-23 national teams, revealed that his latest achievement is driving him to aim for more accolades.

“For me, it comes as a confidence booster and increases the appetite for more.

“The feeling is the same from the first time I won such an award in Zimbabwe,’’ he said.

The People’s Team, as Big Bullets are affectionately known in Malawi, also had a night to savour at the awards ceremony by claiming four more gongs.

“For the team, it means we are on the right path, as it was not only the Coach of the Year award.

“We also won the Player of the Season, Midfielder of the Season, Defender of the Season and top goal scorer, so it was a good year for us, and it adds to the pressure for us,” added Pasuwa.

“Lastly, I want to thank the fans for their unwavering support. We love you, the 12th man, because without you we are nothing.

“We won’t take their support for granted, as it goes a long way in boosting us whenever we play.”

Nyasa Big Bullets key defender Gomezgani Chirwa claimed a double on the night after being voted both Defender of the Season and Player of the Season.

His teammate, Patrick Mwaungulu, was also named Midfielder of the Season.

Their goalkeeper Richard Chimbamba was pipped to the Goalkeeper of the Season award by Blue Eagle’s Brighton Munthali.

He, however, had won the award in 2021.

As has seemingly become the trend lately, Pasuwa would have to start the season without some of the star players from the championship-winning squad.

At least four players have left the club.

Chief striker and league top goalscorer Babatunde Adepoju was snapped up by South African outfit Venda Football Academy.

One of the teams set to give the team a good run for their money is Silver Strikers, who recently engaged former Highlanders coach Pieter de Jong on a two-year deal.

TNM Super League Player Awards in summary:

Goalkeeper of the Season

Brighton Munthali (Blue Eagles)

Defender of the Season

Gomezgani Chirwa (Nyasa Big Bullets)

Best Midfielder

Patrick Mwaungulu (Nyasa Big Bullets)

Rookie of the Season

Macdonald Lameck (Blue Eagles)

Top goalscorer

Babatunde Adepoju (Nyasa Big Bullets)

Player of the Season