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| Sports |
| Nomads whip Bullets |
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by
Garry Chirwa, 20 October 2003
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11:40:24
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Bullets 1-Wanderers 3
Real heroes are troops who fight in wars and die for their country and the nomads did just that on Sunday for their club when they inflicted afternoon torture on their sworn adversaries Bakili Bullets with a 3-1 sweet victory to wing into the finals of the K30.7 million BP Top 8.
Skirmishes and missile throwing by Bullets fans which went on even after the match outside the stadium premises, spoiled this highly explosive clash which was stopped for over 15 minutes to allow armed police to restore order.
Clever police tactics, which included firing of rubber bullets and tear-gas in the stands, prevented the situation from erupting into full-scale violence. Quite a good number of fans were injured as the ugly face of hooliganism reared its head.
However, the nomads emerged unscathed and left the stadium with their heads held high. Their fans also expressed a warm and touching fondness for their heroes by according them a hearty sendoff from the stadium—it was a deeply moving moment for the nomads.
You could also not deny the nomads an all night celebration they richly deserved. Until Sunday, they had not beaten their rivals for nearly three years.
The Bullets, who had spoiled their passionate fans with a number of silverware, year in and year out, found it hard to adjust to the reality and swallowed hard in an attempt to contain the lump in their throats.
The last time they were beaten in a competitive match on the pitch was in the semis of the same competition last year when they went down 2-1 to Silver Strikers.
Their fans wore a worried expression after the match in what must have been a physically and emotionally draining afternoon.
Some fans vented their frustrations by attacking vehicles along the Chipembere Highway.
Fittingly Bullets’ sponsor president Bakili Muluzi was one of the first to pat the nomads on the back through the national radio MBC.
Wanderers’ vocal team manager Walter Nyamilandu said after the game: “Justice has now prevailed, we beat Bullets in the Carlsberg Cup final but we were robbed of a golden goal. Anyway credit should go to the boys, they sweated hard for this victory.
“We are now seriously looking forward to the final game against Moyale this coming Saturday, the battle is certainly not yet over and today’s win will be meaningless if we do not win the cup,” said a visibly delighted Nyamilandu as he wiped sweat from his face.
Indeed, the match will go a long way in erasing the memories of their failure to win the Carlsberg Cup against the Bullets four months ago after they were denied a golden goal by Muzipasi Mwangonde.
However, while congratulating their rivals for making it to the finals, Bullets’ team manager Ophman Kondowe partly attributed the loss to officiation.
“We congratulate Wanderers for winning the game but at the same time officiation was not fair, we were denied at least two clear penalties. But it’s not the end of the world...life has to go on,” said Kondowe with a sad expression on his face.
What a match it was. Swaying the emotions of the fans on a bright sunny afternoon, the Bullets took it upon themselves to set the tempo when they came close twice in the opening stages but on both occasions striker Ganizani ‘Mbobo’ Malunga shot wide.
However, the nomads proved that the currency of football is about scoring goals and youthful midfielder Joseph Kamwendo, who was not on song, set his side on the path to victory in the 13th minute with a fabulous free-kick from the left flank which was planted home from close range by Gift Makoloni, shaking the eastern stands from their foundations as Wanderers celebrated the goal.
But as the nomads fans were still way up in the sky, Bullets’ grabbed a dramatic equaliser barely a minute later. Malunga floated in a cross which seemed to hang in the air for an eternity before Grant Lungu pounced with a powerful header that gave Wanderers’ goalkeeper Phillip ‘MG One’ Nyasulu not a prayer.
Relief was felt amongst the Bullets fans and, driven on by inform Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi and Rahim ‘Raul’ Ishmail, their team kept feet firmly on the gas but the nomads made sure they put a clamp on the sublime soccer which has seen the Bullets dominating the domestic scene for quite some time.
Midfielders Haji Tambala, who fittingly got the K30,000 man-of-the-match award, experienced Sherry Msuku, blossoming Tendai ‘Tegu’ Mbisa and the rearguard comprising Allan Kamanga, James Sangala and Semu Matemba kept the engines running for the nomads.
Then came the moment which would have made England’s star David Beckham turn green with envy. The nomads won an indirect free-kick on the left in the 25th minute and Msuku drilled in a marvellous curve which eluded the wall as well as Bullets’ helpless ‘keeper Navigator Dzinkambani. It was a beautiful goal worthy the occasion.
The Bullets came into the second half breathing fire but the nomads put the game beyond their reach through Aggrey Kanyenda with a simple header after being strategically put through by Mbisa.
The nomads were back in town and it was the end of an adventure for Bullets.
Teams: Bullets: Dzinkambani, Petrus Mwalweni, Joseph Gatros, Afiki Sikelo, Kumbukani Lungu, James Chilapondwa, Rahim Ishmail, Ng’ambi (Kondwani Nundwe), Kenan Fischer Kondowe (c), Lungu, Malunga (Chikondi Banda). Wanderers: Nyasulu, Kamanga, Sangala, Matemba, Mbisa (Gift Zakazaka), Richard Msowoya (Lawrence Majawa), Msuku, Tambala, Makoloni, Kanyenda, Kamwendo (Bernard Kalirani). Ref: Youngson Chilinda |
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