Tag Archives: CECAFA Kagame Cup in Tanzania

Malawi

Malawi’s Nyasa Big Bullets cruises to CECAFA Kagame Cup finals

Maneno Chimulala
Malawi’s Nyasa Big Bullets cruises to CECAFA Kagame Cup finals

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi’s super league champions, Nyasa Big Bullets, have progressed to the finals of the CECAFA Kagame Inter-Club Cup underway in Tanzania after beating Azam FC of Tanzania through post-match penalties.

Bullets scored just two minutes into the game through Bright Munthali but Azam equalized towards the end of the game. The game went into extra time and both teams scored one goal each, forcing the game into post-match penalties.

Bullets will face Express FC of Uganda in the finals. Express defeated KMKM of Zanzibar 2-1 on Tuesday to book their place in the grand finale.

Before meeting Azam today Bullets expressed confidence of carrying the day despite the organisers changing the venue from Benjamin Mkapa Stadium to Azam Sports Complex, the home of their opponents.

Bullets assistant coach Peter Mponda, who is in charge of the team in the absence of head coach Callisto Pasuwa, said the change could be construed as an attempt to give Azam FC an advantage, but this does not faze them.

He said: “I believe it is going to be a very difficult game. It will be a tough game not necessarily because of the opposition we are playing, but because we are guests and they will do everything possible to stop us.

“The change of the venue will give Azam an advantage as they will be comfortable at their home which has an artificial turf.”

However, Mponda said they are not trying to find an excuse in the event that things do not go their way.

“We are not here to make excuses. Our home Kamuzu Stadium also has an artificial turf and we are used to playing on that surface,” he said.

To make it to the semi-finals, Bullets finished as Group A runners-up after a one-all draws against Young Africans (Tanzania) and Express FC (Uganda) and a 2-0 win over Atlabara of South Sudan.

Nyasa Big Bullets Starting X1 against Azam FC in the Semifinals of the Cecafa Kagame Cup Ernest Kankhobwe

Gomezgan Chirwa

Sankhani Mkandawire

Nickson Nyasulu

Yamikani Fodya

Bright Munthali

Chimango Kayira

Chimwemwe Idana

MacFarren Mgwira

Chiukepo Msowoya

Babatunde Adepoju

Sports

Sulom ‘blocks’ Big Bullets from participating in CECAFA Kagame Cup in Tanzania

Maravi Post Reporter
Big Bullets players

The Super League of Malawi (SULOM) has directed Nyasa Big Bullets to play their TNM Super League match against Silver Strikers on Saturday, 31st before they travel to Tanzania for this year’s CECAFA Kagame Cup.

Bullets were invited as guests and confirmed their participation in the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2021 to be staged from 1st to 15th August.

According to Kagame Cup organizers, the draw for the competition will be conducted on July 27th.

Teams confirmed for Kagame Cup 2021 are Young Africans SC, Azam FC (Tanzania), Altabara FC (South Sudan), Le Messager Ngozi FC (Burundi), APR (Rwanda), Express FC, KCCA FC (Uganda), Tusker FC (Kenya), KMKM SC (Zanzibar), Nyasa Big Bullets FC (Malawi).

Last Friday, Bullets Chief Executive Officer, Suzgo Nyirenda told local media that “we have confirmed our participation and we are going as guests”.

But SULOM General Secretary, Williams Banda declined to change the fixture, arguing that the league has been extended well enough due to Covid-19 and recent Malawi national football team engagements.

He, therefore said Bullets must play against Silver Strikers on Saturday, 31st  July, and “thereafter they can decide to go and participate in CECAFA Kagame Cup in Tanzania.”

He observed the extension of the league has impacted negatively particularly on teams without sponsorship.

“We started the league in 2020 but was suspended due to Covid-19 restrictions and now we are in 2021 meaning that most of the teams their confers are dry.

“Secondly, just recently the national team participated in COSAFA, which also had an impact on the league itself,” said Banda.

He then faulted the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) for keeping the invitation to itself until last Friday when the country’s football governing body asked Sulom to shift Bullets’ match.

“When did FAM receive the invitation for the Champions of the TNM Super League to participate at Cecafa?

“Who will foot the cost in as far extension of the league to the teams in respect of fulfilling the fixtures as well the league to administer it until the end? queried Banda.

According to him, FAM should have informed SULOM in good time so that when they were reviewing the fixture after Flame’s engagements, they could have considered the invitation and revise the fixture.

“I know Cecafa organizers wrote, maybe, FAM sometime back but we were not informed until on the 23rd of July that’s when they wrote us, and we did inquire to say was this on the football calendar which was agreed between FAM and Sulom. We have yet  to get the response to that effect

“As regards to this weekend’s fixture, I can assure the general public that come rain come shine, Nyasa Big Bullets Vs Silver Strikers will be played and thereafter, maybe, that’s when they decide to go to Cecafa, but for this weekend fixture, that one will be played.

“I don’t doubt about that and even Nyasa Big Bullets is aware, and Silver Strikers is aware, and FAM is aware that we released the fixture after revising it and I can assure you that this game will be played at any cost,” asserted Banda.

There were no immediate comments from FAM and Nyasa Big Bullets.