adminCALLISTO PASUWA’S Nyasa Big Bullets are assured of taking home US$33 000 following their two teams’ qualification to the final of the FDH Bank Cup.
The senior side will play their reserve side in a historic final on October 8 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
With the champions set to get US$25 000 and the runners-up US$8 000, the People’s Team family are assured of banking US$33 000 at the end of the competition.
Reports across the country have suggested Pasuwa was ferried by ambulance during his team’s semi-final win against Mukuru Wanderers in Lilongwe at the weekend.
However, the coach was there at the stadium until the end of the match and even conducted the post-match press conference.
“Our plan was to score and defend our goals. In our recent games with Wanderers, we managed to score but conceded needlessly. It’s a great win and it will be a great final.”
Club chief executive, Suzgo Nyirenda, said having secured the US$33 000, they will honour theUS$242 extra bonus pledge made to players after beating rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers 4-0 in the semis.
“We made the pledge and we have to fulfil it. They have done their part.
“The boys didn’t just beat Wanderers. They did it in style with a convincing 4-0 victory. They deserve the extra bonus.”
Nyirenda said all the 30 registered players will receive bonus.
“That’s a lot of money. But that’s not an issue at all. Remember, we have already secured K33 million. (US$33 000).”
The final will be a repeat of a 1997 scenario when Bullets senior team and Big Bullets Reserves clashed in Press Cup. T
he senior side went on to beat their juniors.
Last year, Bullets senior team also knocked out the Reserves in FDH Bank Cup quarter-finals through post-match penalties.
Bullets Reserves coach Enos Chatama said although they have a new team, this time around they will plan well for the final.
“We know what went wrong last year. This time we will plan well for the match.”
Interestingly, six players from last year’s Reserves side, such as wonderkid Patrick Mwawungulu, were promoted to the senior side.
To make it to the final, Reserves beat TNM Super League outfits Mighty Tigers, Red Lions, Blue Eagles and Chipiku Central Region Football League giants Extreme FC. – Sports Reporter/Malawi Nation
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter