The weight of disappointment hung heavy over Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday afternoon as FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Peter Mponda faced the media following yet another painful defeat to city rivals Mighty Wanderers. For the third time this season, his side had fallen to the Nomads, this time surrendering their hopes of reaching a fourth consecutive FDH Bank Cup final.
The mood was apologetic, the words measured, as Mponda struggled to reconcile what he saw on the pitch with what the scoreline reflected. A 1-0 defeat, decided by Promise Kamwendo’s late strike in the 88th minute, meant Bullets’ quest for a third FDH Bank Cup title had come to a devastating end
Sunday’s loss came just seven days after Wanderers had dismantled Bullets 3-0 in a TNM Super League encounter at the same venue. That defeat had been deserved, comprehensive, and painful. But this one cut differently. This time, Bullets had dominated possession, created chances, and dictated the tempo for large periods. Yet they were left empty-handed once again.
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“I feel for the supporters because we haven’t given them what they deserve,” Mponda said, his voice heavy with regret. “But the performance today was good. We dominated the game in both halves, but unfortunately, we are on the losing side again.”
The statistics painted a picture of Bullets’ dominance. They controlled the midfield, pressed high, and created several goal-scoring opportunities. In the sixth minute, Chrispin Mapemba came agonizingly close when he headed over the bar from a promising position. Throughout the match, Bullets peppered the Wanderers goal, only to be denied by goalkeeper Dalitso Khungwa or their own wayward finishing.
As the clock ticked into the final minutes and the match seemed destined for extra time, Wanderers found their moment of magic. Substitute Promise Kamwendo, introduced from the bench to add fresh legs to the tiring contest, rose highest to meet Isaac Kaliati’s perfectly weighted cross. His header beat Bullets goalkeeper Innocent Nyasulu and sparked wild celebrations on the blue side of the stadium.
“Wanderers scored from out of the blue, they capitalized on our loose marking, they scored, they punished us,” Mponda reflected. “It’s very painful to take with the way we played today. We dominated the game, we did everything to win it. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”
The goal was a dagger to Bullets’ hearts. After enduring the humiliation of the previous week’s 3-0 thrashing, they had come out with renewed determination and fighting spirit. They had shown character, resilience, and tactical discipline. Yet once again, they were left ruing missed opportunities.
The defeat marked Wanderers’ third victory over Bullets this season, with an aggregate scoreline of 4-0 across the three matches. The psychological advantage now firmly belongs to the Nomads, who will face Silver Strikers in the FDH Bank Cup final on November 9 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
For Wanderers, it represents their first-ever appearance in an FDH Bank Cup final since the competition’s inception in the 2020/21 season. It’s a historic achievement for a club that had previously fallen short in their quest for this particular trophy.
For Bullets, the disappointment is compounded by recent history. They had won the FDH Bank Cup in the previous two editions, beating their opponents by an aggregate scoreline of 6-1 in those two finals. They had entered this season’s competition as defending champions and heavy favorites. Now, that dream lies in tatters.
The derby defeats come against a backdrop of what had been an impressive run of form for Bullets. Before the first derby loss to Wanderers on October 26, Peter Mponda’s charges had won eight consecutive matches across all competitions, scoring 23 goals and conceding just three. They had looked imperious, untouchable even.
In the league, Bullets currently sit at the second on the TNM Super League table with 49 points from 20 games, maintaining a seven-point lead over second-placed Wanderers. They had defeated Chitipa United, Songwe Border United, Dedza Dynamos, Silver Strikers, and Mafco FC in a blistering run before falling to Wanderers last week
In the FDH Bank Cup, they had progressed through victories over Chilumba Barracks, The Boyz, and Kamuzu Barracks to reach the semifinals. Everything had pointed toward another trophy-laden campaign.
Then came the derbies, and everything changed.
The contrast between last Sunday’s 3-0 league defeat and this Sunday’s 1-0 cup loss could not have been starker. In the league match, Bullets had been outplayed, outfought, and comprehensively beaten. Wanderers had been the better team in every department.
This time, however, Bullets showed marked improvement. They controlled possession, pressed intelligently, and created the better chances. The players demonstrated the fighting spirit Mponda had demanded after the previous week’s debacle. But football, as Mponda knows all too well, is ultimately decided by what happens in both penalty boxes.
“The players gave their all, only that the result didn’t favor us,” the coach emphasized. “It’s very painful to take this result with the way we played today. The boys had the fighting spirits, they wanted to win it at all cost. It’s just unfortunate that they are on a losing side again.”
The match itself had been tense from the opening whistle. Both teams understood the magnitude of the occasion—a place in the FDH Bank Cup final and citywide bragging rights hanging in the balance.
Wanderers had a penalty appeal waved away midway through the first half when Thierry Samar Tajong went down in the box under challenge from a Bullets defender. Referee David Chinoko, making his third derby appearance as the man in the middle, was unmoved.
Bullets continued to probe, with Mapemba’s sixth-minute header representing their best chance of the opening period. The first half ended goalless, with both goalkeepers—Khungwa for Wanderers and Nyasulu for Bullets—keeping their teams in the game with crucial interventions.
The second half saw Bullets increase the pressure. Mponda’s tactical adjustments had his team pushing forward in waves, stretching the Wanderers defense and creating space for their attacking players to exploit.
But Wanderers, buoyed by their recent derby successes and playing with growing confidence, remained dangerous on the counter-attack. Their defensive organization, marshaled by experienced defenders, frustrated Bullets’ attacking forays.
As the minutes ticked away and the match appeared headed for extra time, Wanderers struck. Kaliati’s delivery from the right found Kamwendo, and the substitute’s header ensured that the Nomads would be the ones celebrating a historic cup final appearance.
For Mponda, the challenge now is as much psychological as it is tactical. His players, he acknowledged, are “down” after three consecutive defeats to their biggest rivals. The mental scars of losing derby after derby, particularly in such contrasting circumstances, could have lasting effects.
“We need to regroup quickly, we need to find ways of motivating our players,” Mponda said, his thoughts already turning to the challenges ahead. “They are down today, they didn’t deserve this result. But we still have some games to play in the super league, we need to fight for the championship.”
The league title remains very much within Bullets’ grasp. Their seven-point advantage at the top of the table provides a comfortable cushion, though Wanderers have games in hand. With the FDH Bank Cup now out of reach, Mponda must refocus his squad’s energy on securing an 18th league title for the club.
Thursday’s Test Against Blue Eagles
There is little time to dwell on the disappointment. Bullets return to action on Thursday when they travel to Lilongwe to face Blue Eagles in a TNM Super League fixture. It’s a quick turnaround that could prove either a blessing or a curse—a chance to immediately bounce back or another opportunity for the wounds to deepen.
Mponda will need to carefully manage his squad’s emotions and physical condition. Some players may require rest after the physical and emotional toll of three derbies in quick succession. Others may need the opportunity to play their way back into form and confidence.
The coach will also have a full squad to choose from, with midfielder Yankho Singo having returned to fitness after recovering from a muscle injury sustained in the quarterfinal victory over Kamuzu Barracks. Chrispin Mapemba, who has recently returned after nearly a year out with injury, adds further depth to the squad.
While Bullets lick their wounds, Wanderers can celebrate a season-defining achievement. Their three victories over their greatest rivals, culminating in reaching their first-ever FDH Bank Cup final, represents a significant shift in the balance of power in Blantyre.
Head coach Bob Mpinganjira has instilled a belief in his squad that this is their year to shine in all competitions. The evidence suggests he may be right. In all three derby victories this season, Wanderers have shown different qualities—clinical finishing in the 3-0 league win, and defensive resilience combined with late heroics in the cup semifinal.
The final against Silver Strikers on November 9 offers Wanderers the chance to claim their first FDH Bank Cup trophy and add another chapter to their storied history.
For Bullets, the coming weeks will define their season. The FDH Bank Cup may be gone, but the league title remains the ultimate prize. Mponda’s ability to lift his players from this crushing disappointment and refocus them on the championship race will be crucial.
The supporters, who Mponda apologized to after Sunday’s match, deserve better. They have watched their team dominate matches only to come away empty-handed. They have endured three derby defeats in the space of six weeks. The anguish in the red half of Kamuzu Stadium on Sunday evening was palpable.
But football, particularly in derby matches, has a way of producing unexpected twists. Bullets have been here before and bounced back. The challenge for Mponda and his technical team is to ensure that happens again.
“We need to find ways to motivate them and fight for the league,” Mponda concluded. “The boys had the fighting spirits, they wanted to win it at all cost. It’s just unfortunate that they are on a losing side again.”
As the dust settles on another painful derby defeat, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets must pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and prepare for the battles ahead. The season is far from over, but the psychological scars of this loss will take time to heal.
For now, all they can do is regroup, refocus, and come back stronger. The league title is still theirs to win or lose. The question is whether they can find the mental fortitude to overcome this latest setback and finish the season with silverware.
Thursday’s match against Blue Eagles will provide the first indication of how they respond to adversity. For Peter Mponda and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, it’s time to show the character and resilience that has made them one of Malawi’s most successful clubs.
The FDH Bank Cup dream may be over, but the fight for glory continues.
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