By Twink Jones Gadama
The stage was set, the fans were on the edge of their seats, and the tension in the air was palpable as Nyasa Big Bullets clashed with Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in what was dubbed as the mother of all derbies at the Kamuzu Stadium.
The Blantyre derby was a battle for supremacy between the two rivals, and both teams were hungry for a win.
From the kickoff, it was clear that Wanderers meant business as they immediately started breathing fire, dominating in the Bullets’ half.
The pressure they mounted on the Bullets’ defense paid off when Isaac Kaliati scored the opening goal in the 20th minute after receiving a beautiful pass from Gadi Chirwa.
The Wanderers fans erupted in joy as their team took the lead in the first half.
Bullets, on the other hand, struggled to make an impact on the Wanderers’ defense, managing only two goal attempts in the entire first half.
The atmosphere was electric as the rivalry between the two teams came to the forefront.
As the second half kicked off, Bullets came back with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to equalize.
And they did just that in the 49th minute when Patrick Mwaungulu scored after beating the Wanderers’ defense. The game was now level, and both teams pushed hard to find the winning goal.
Stanley Sanudi and Isaac Kaliati made some beautiful exchanges for Wanderers, while Emphraim Kondowe missed a golden opportunity for Bullets as his shot went over the crossbar.
The game was intense, with both teams displaying their skills and determination to come out on top.
As the match wore on, the tension on the field was matched by the unease on the sidelines, with both coaches, Ramadhan for Wanderers and Pasuwa for Bullets, offering guidance to their players.
The players were at loggerheads, and at one point, referee Mayamiko Kanjere had to step in to calm the situation.
Gadi Chirwa was a standout player for Wanderers and was voted as the Man of the Match for his exceptional performance.
Both teams pushed hard in the remaining minutes of the match, with Wanderers defending resolutely to deny Bullets any further goals.
In the end, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams sharing the spoils.
Coach Pasuwa for Bullets admitted that his team did not perform well in the first half but praised their attacking prowess in the second half.
Meke Mwase, assistant coach for Wanderers, accepted the result and stated that they would work on rectifying their mistakes in the future.
The fans may have been divided, but one thing was clear – the Blantyre derby was a spectacle to behold, and both teams gave it their all on the field.
The rivalry between Bullets and Wanderers will continue to burn bright, and fans can look forward to more thrilling encounters in the future.
