Africa-Press – Malawi. Nyasa Big Bullets have been crowned champions of the TNM Super League for the 16th time at a colourful event that took place yesterday at Kamuzu Stadium.
The People’s Team had already claimed the title with two games to spare but showed no mercy on Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar to triumph 2-1. The win allowed Bullets to set a new record of 73 points beating the 2018 record by two points.
Babatunde Adepoju and Hassan Kajoke scored in each half for Bullets to take their tally to 73 points from 30 games and break their own record set four years ago when they grabbed the championship after accumulating 71 points.
Ibrahim Sadick scored the lone goal for Dedza as the Central Region side wrap up the season on ninth position with 41 points. Bullets went into the game seeking a great finale.
The People’s Team fielded a rather changed side handing captain John Lanjesi and left back Eric Kaonga starting slots while resting the likes of Chimwemwe Idana and Precious Sambani.
Dedza, despite expecting nothing from the game, were not walkovers and gave Bullets a tough run throughout. Babatunde claimed his golden boot award in great fashion when he scored his 19th goal in the league 32 minutes into the game.
Dedza however cancelled the lead through Sadick 10 minutes later when he scored direct from a corner. Sadick’s corner kick made no contact with anyone as Bullets goalie Rabson Chiyenda was at fault for failing to stop the ball.
The second half produced scintillating football with both teams pressing each other in search of a separating goal. Babatunde missed a chance to take his tally to 20 goals when he missed a penalty after Lanjesi Nkhoma was fouled in the danger zone.
The Nigerian was already out of the field to be substituted due to an injury when his team got the penalty. However, he was called back into the field to take the penalty a decision that the visitors protested. Babatunde was eventually cautioned and he then missed the penalty.
Substitute Kajoke made a slice in header in the 74th minute to send the Bullets family into wild celebrations. Bullets Assistant Coach Peter Mponda said it was a successful campaign.
“We thank the players for putting up spirited performance. Of course we had a youthful squad but our supporters also rallied behind us. It is good that we have set a new record but we feel we could have done better because we dropped points in some games we were supposed to win,” he said.
Dedza Coach Dan Dzinkambani blamed the referee for spoiling the game. “Congratulations to Bullets for winning and they scored genuine goals. However, most of the referee’s decisions were against us. He was supposed to flash a straight red card to Babatunde for getting back into the field without his consent,” he said. Top officials including TNM Plc acting Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Gowera and Super League of Malawi president Tiya Somba Banda were present.
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