Bullets Stand Firm: Why Rejecting Simba’s Trial Offer for Salima Was the Right Decision

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have emphatically turned down a proposal from Tanzanian giants Simba Sports Club to send their star attacker Chikumbutso Salima on trial—and they are absolutely right to do so.

The proposal, which arrived at Bullets’ offices last week, requested the availability of the exciting young forward who shared the 2025 TNM Super League golden boot with teammate Babatunde Adepoju, both finishing with 15 goals. However, Simba’s insistence that Salima must first undergo trials before any permanent deal could be considered has been met with firm resistance from the Airtel Top 8 champions.

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Bullets took nearly a week to respond to Simba’s proposal, a delay that spoke volumes about how seriously they regarded the offer. The club’s leadership viewed the trial requirement as beneath a player of Salima’s proven caliber and statistical achievements.

“The stats are there, Salima is a highly talented player. Simba presented the proposal for trials which we denied,” stated Albert Chigoga, Chief Executive Officer for FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, making it clear that the club believes their prized asset has already proven himself at the highest level available to him.

The message from Bullets was unambiguous: if the numbers don’t speak loudly enough about Salima’s quality, then perhaps Simba aren’t serious about signing him in the first place.

Chikumbutso Salima’s journey to becoming one of Malawi’s most exciting attacking talents is a testament to both his natural ability and Bullets’ excellent player development system.

Just three years ago, Salima was plying his trade in the Bullets Reserve team under the guidance of coach Enos Chatama. His promotion to the senior squad came at the perfect time, and the young attacker seized the opportunity with both hands, hitting the ground running in his debut elite league season.

Salima joined Bullets Reserve in 2022 from Lawrence Waya Academy and quickly established himself as the cornerstone of the developmental squad. His impressive performances earned him the Reserve Team Player of the Season award and he finished as the 2022 FDH Bank Cup top goal scorer.

To further his development, Bullets loaned Salima to Bangwe All Stars, where he continued to shine. His performances were so impressive that he earned an opportunity to attend trials in Saudi Arabia, though the move ultimately fell through due to travel complications.

Returning to Bullets in 2024, Salima wasted no time making his mark, becoming one of the key players in the team’s successful Airtel Top 8 Cup campaign. But it was in 2025, following the departure of several senior players, that Salima truly announced himself on the big stage.

Salima’s 2025 season statistics are nothing short of remarkable and form the bedrock of Bullets’ argument against trial requirements.

Despite primarily operating as a winger rather than a central striker, Salima found the back of the net 15 times in just 28 league appearances. More impressively, he registered 11 assists, demonstrating his ability to both score and create for teammates—a complete attacking threat that any club should covet.

These contributions were instrumental in propelling Bullets to a second-place finish in the 2025 TNM Super League, with Salima emerging as one of the team’s most consistent performers throughout the campaign.

For context, these numbers represent elite production in Malawian football and compare favorably with attacking players across the region. The golden boot award, shared with the experienced Adepoju, underlines Salima’s finishing prowess and consistent goal threat.

While Tanzania’s football has undoubtedly made significant strides in recent years—sitting 14 places above Malawi at 112th in the FIFA Rankings released on December 22, 2025, compared to Malawi’s 126th position—this gap does not justify treating a proven goal scorer like an unproven prospect.

The financial disparities between the two leagues are stark and well-documented. Tanzanian league champions pocket $250,000 (approximately MK434,250,000), dwarfing the MK100 million awarded to Malawian champions. The superior infrastructure, investment, and competitive standards in Tanzania are evident.

the modern game, data drives recruitment decisions at the highest levels. Salima’s 15 goals and 11 assists from a wide position represent elite numbers that would attract attention in any regional league. If Simba’s scouting department cannot see the value in these statistics, or if they need a trial period to verify what the numbers already demonstrate, it raises questions about their seriousness as suitors.

Salima is contracted to Bullets until 2028, giving the club significant leverage in any negotiations. By demanding trials, Simba essentially asked Bullets to assume all the risk—releasing a key player for evaluation with no guarantee of a transfer fee or permanent move. This is not how serious clubs conduct business for proven talent.

Bullets’ decision transcends this single transfer saga. It represents a statement about how Malawian clubs should position themselves and their players in the regional and continental market.

For too long, Malawian football has operated from a position of perceived inferiority, with players often undervalued and clubs accepting unfavorable terms simply to facilitate moves abroad. This mentality must change if the domestic game is to develop and retain value

Simba Sports Club are undoubtedly a bigger club than FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in terms of resources, support, and regional prestige. But size doesn’t entitle anyone to dictate unreasonable terms and Bullets will be waiting for serious terms.