Kalisto Pasuwa had to rest the bulk of his regular players against Mighty Waka Waka Tigers, preparing them for their season saver game against Silver Strikers Football Club.
The two old-aged rivals, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers will tussle for the Airtel Top 8 Cup silverware on Saturday at Bingu National Stadium, the trophy which can save the season for the holders who are 10 points behind leaders, the Bankers.
Kalisto Pasuwa’s men beat Mighty Tigers on Wednesday in the TNM Super League 3-0 to move third on the log table. Speaking after the game, Pasuwa said the win is a morale booster ahead of their intriguing encounter.
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“Yah, it’s something that we wanted as a team. It is a motivation to the boys so that they can go into the finals with their heads raised,” he said.
With another vital game coming on Saturday, Kalisto rested a bulk of his regular players on Wednesday at Kamuzu Stadium with Gomezgani Chirwa, Richard Chimbamba, Yankho Singo, Alick Lungu, Precious Sambani all not even on the bench.
Tigers were coming from a barren stalemate against Karonga United and heading into Wednesday’s game against their rivals, they were hoping to record a win which would lift them to 11th, leapfrogging Dedza Dynamos. However, the visitors, Bullets started the game well better than the hosts with Gastin Phodo’s header rattling the cross-bar before Ephraim Kondowe rifled wide his effort.
Mighty Tigers responded to the early scare with a brilliant move only for the Kenyan defender, Clyde Senaji Navade to rescue Bullets as Grayson Msowoya had the goal gapping.
Tigers’ keeper, Lucky Tizola had to be at his very best to deny Bullets access to the goal in the guest half but he was beaten with just seconds before the first stanza closed. Chawangwa Gumbo detected Salima’s move and the attacker squeezed the ball through the legs of the keeper to give his team an advantage at the break.
The visitors started brightly in the second half with Lameck Gamphani, Lloyd Aaron Banega being unsuccessful in their attempts to beat Tizola. Bullets had a two-goal cushion in the 73rd minute when Salima completed his brace. Ernest Petro attacked down the right flank before spotting Salima unmarked in the penalty area and the first attempt for the attacker was saved by Tizola, the second attempt went in.
Ronald Chitiyo sealed the win with an excellent ball from Yamikani Mologeni in the 82nd minute. Bullets have won seven of their last nine games, drawing against Dedza Dynamos and Mzuzu City Hammers only.
“It was a game which we could have buried in 10 minutes. We missed a lot of chances but the boys did well starting from the first minute. Fortunately, we got the goals and three points,” he said.
The Zimbabwean gaffer downplayed claims that he rested the players preparing for the game against Silver Strikers. “It wasn’t about the finals. It was the case of sickness. Three to four players had the flu and I couldn’t play them when they were sick. On Babatunde, he was suspended, he couldn’t play,” he said.
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