Another calamitous first-half performance, another early chastising. Mighty Mukuru Wanderers had to blame their profligacy last week for failing to hammer their city rivals, and Mafco FC’s Jimmy Mzunga echoed the same sentiment.
Kalisto Pasuwa needed second-half permutation to change the complexion of the game. Mafco FC pre-learned their opponents well, it was a performance that surprised many as the team remain plunger to the bottom three, winless now in six games.
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The hosts’ performance in the opening minutes kept the matchgoers guessing. Bernard Chimaimba and Innocent Makawano kept Bullets’ defense busy and the partnership paid off just 26 minutes into the game. As the exertions of the season begin to tell across all clubs, Bullets keep finding new ways to avoid defeats, they should have lost their last two games.
Patrick Mwaungulu’s individual wizardly bailed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets as he canceled Makawano’s first-half strike with a magical free-kick.
“I would say that we failed to utilize the chances that we created, we had so many chances,” Mafco FC Assistant Coach, Jimmy Mzunga rues about missed chances.
Kalisto Pasuwa needed Babatunde Adepoju and Ronald Chitiyo to up his game against Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, again on Saturday he needed Chitiyo at halftime to increase the creativity in his game.
The Zimbabwean gaffer has accepted that his charges have had dreadful starts to the games this season but has attributed it to a lack of proper preparations before the season rolled out in April this year.
“A game again that we started slowly, if you can see, we did not even have numbers in the box in terms of our attack. And also, the top was hesitant most of the time in the first half, but we were better in the second half where we ended up creating several chances, unfortunately, we could not wrap up a winner,” said Pasuwa.
Mafco FC will look to have a sharper image Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in their next game while FCB Nyasa Big Bullets are on the road again as they travel to Nankhaka Ground to face CRECK Sporting Club.
Mwaungulu shows class again to bail out Bullets
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were given a torrid time at Chitowe, they have failed to win in their three visits to the ground, and they are winless in their four away leave games against Mafco FC, three draws and one defeat.
The people’s team were on the verge of facing a disappointing defeat but that is to Patrick Mwaungulu’s wizardly moment.
Crippled by injuries, Kalisto Pasuwa had to deploy Gomezgani Chirwa as a Centre-half while Patrick Mwangulu was deployed as a number 10. Hassan Kajoke made his second start this season but both with Babatunde failed to impress.
Bullets started brightly in the first 10 minutes but they could only hold on until 26 minutes. They found themselves behind.
Mwaungulu has now scored three goals, two with the right foot, and one with the left foot. With the introduction of Chitiyo, Mwaungulu was asked to stay higher up and wide but more like a central midfielder, just one out wide, getting the ball and giving it, keeping things moving. Babatunde wanted a big chance after Crispin Mapemba called the keeper to make a save.
Mafco’s physicality frustrated Bullets and the midfield could give in the first half, Mwaungulu’s height was to the advantage of the likes of Stain Malata, and Wakisa Kalinga.
As the game seemed to be destined to be a first defeat for the visitors, Mwaungulu’s free-kick from the edge of the box beat Christopher Mikuwa who had a great game to bring parity for the people’s team. His celebration showed that he needed more than just a point.
Ndlobvi’s experience keep Bullets at bay
With three defeats in six games, despite a good performance against the defending Champions, Mafco FC still have a mountain to climb if they are to return to winning ways. Captain Paul Ndlobvi showed his leadership when referee, Kondwani Kamwendo flashed a yellow card to Mikuwa for time wasting.
The towering defender was named the Player of the match. His experience helped Mafco FC to contain Bullets pressure but he had no chance to save them from Mwaungulu’s magic.
Powered from the back, Makawano came close to double the lead for Mafco and bag his brace but his attempt agonizingly missed the target while Chimaimba missed a huge chance.
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