Bullets strike Silver to defend Airtel Top 8 Cup

Ernest Petro’s looping header was enough for FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to down Silver Strikers in the Airtel Top 8 Cup final as they recorded a 1-0 win at Bingu National Stadium.

The people’s team become the first ever team to defend the Airtel Top 8 Cup since it was rolled out in 2017. Silver Strikers won it in its inaugural season but failed to defend it the following season as Blue Eagles beat Bullets at BNS to win it.

In 2019, Blue Eagles failed to defend the Cup as Silver Strikers beat Karonga United at BNS to win it, and the Bankers also failed to defend it as they surrendered it to Bullets in 2021. Kalisto Pasuwa lost to Mark Harrison’s Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in 2022 before winning it back in 2023. In 2024, Bullets retained the championship and they have done it without conceding a goal in four matches.

MORE NEWS FROM WAMPIRA

In a tight game which saw the battle parked in midfield, a moment of magic was needed to separate things as Petro pounced on Alick Lungu’s ball to beat George Chikooka but the Bankers would have forced the game into penalties late in the game after Chimbamba fumbled, only for Yamikani Mologeni to keep out Chinsisi Maonga’s left-footed effort.

Gift Chunga missed another chance as Babatunde who fired blanks today had a good chance to bury the game but he headed Chikumbutso Salima’s ball into the air.

Kalisto Pasuwa says cup final sometimes does not need good football but goals. “It was a tactical game, we failed to do much in the first half but we managed to make some changes in the second half that have granted us the victory,” looking happy and sweating from the jubilations, Pasuwa explained.

Meanwhile, on his part, Peter Mponda said Bullets did nothing much to win the game but they were lucky enough to win it.

“It is a painful defeat. We analysed Bullets’ strength and we did everything right. We controlled possession and the mid field was in our hands. Bullets did nothing, their star man, Babatunde, did not even tick. They have scored from their only chance which was a short corner whose resultant cross sent to the near post fell into Petro’s way. That’s how we have lost it,” Mponda lamented.

This triumph marks Bullets’ third Airtel Top8 title cementing their dominance in the competition. The victory will undoubtedly fuel their momentum as they pursue further success in the TNM Super League and Castel Challenge Cup. Silver Strikers and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were two-time winners of the Airtel Top 8 Cup with Bankers claiming it in 2017 and 2019 while Bullets had won it in 2021 and 2023.

Heading into Saturday’s fixture, a winner was needed to be the most decorated and successful team in the tournament and the two teams shared tactical tweaks in the first half.

Kalisto Pasuwa had a blow when Crispin Mapemba limped off injured and he was replaced by Salima late in the first half. Silver Strikers’ defence had problems in dealing with the pace of the visitors and they went for recess while carrying two yellow cards.

Bullets started the second half with changes as they upped their game but it was a game of spells. Kalisto Pasuwa’s men fancied their chance in the 71st minute after utilizing their corner-kick which Chikumbutso Salima took short to Lungu whose cross met with the header of Petro whose impact was silent in the game.

Silver Strikers pushed hard for an equalizer introducing fresh legs through substitutions, but Bullets’ resilient defense held firm. They took over the control with Chimwemwe Idana dictating the midfield and the pace of Misheck Seleman nearly gave the fruits but Gift Chunga pressed his effort over the bar after the ball found him unmarked before Mologeni denied Silver Strikers a late equaliser.

The defending Champions launched their campaign with a 2-0 win at Kamuzu Stadium over Civil Service United with Stanley Billiati and Chawangwa Gumbo scoring in the first leg. Spoils were shared in the second leg at Civo for the people’s team to progress to the semi-finals.

Ephraim Kondowe and Blessings Mpokera scored two goals which propelled Pasuwa’s side to the final of the tournament in which they relied on Ernest Petro’s moment of magic.

Silver Strikers who finished the tournament as the only team to have scored more goals [7] beat Dedza Dynamos 7-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals before booting out Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the semi-finals.

Silver Strikers have now lost three back-to-back cup finals against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets. They were beaten on penalties in 2021 in the Airtel Top 8 Cup before losing on penalties again last season in the Castel Challenge Cup.