Wanderers humiliate Bullets 3–0 in Blantyre Derby.
By Michael Martin//MALAWI
°°Singini’s brace seals a memorable afternoon for the Nomads.
The Blantyre Derby lived up to its billing but only for one side. On a clear and sunny Sunday afternoon, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers dismantled FCB Nyasa Big Bullets 3–0 in front of a packed Kamuzu Stadium and leaving the red half of Blantyre in stunned silence.
From the first whistle, the atmosphere was electric. Blue flags fluttered, drums thundered and chants resonated through the stands. Yet within minutes of kick off it was clear which team had come with hunger and precision.
Wanderers pressed high and dictating tempo while Bullets struggled to find their rhythm.
The opening exchanges were tight with both sides creating half chances.
However, in the 27th minute, Wanderers drew first blood. A swift move down the right flank saw Stanley Sanudi whip in a teasing cross that was met powerfully by striker Blessings Singini who nodded home past Bullets goalkeeper Richard Chimbamba.
The Nomads’ faithful erupted. Blue smoke filled the air as “Manoma! Kumwa tea wankaka!” chants rolled through the stands.
Bullets, visibly shaken and tried to regroup but failed to match the composure of their opponents. Their midfield looked disjointed and each misplaced pass drew groans from their frustrated supporters. Yes! They could not chant ‘Mwana ndi mwana’ song.
The second half brought no relief for the defending champions. In the 62nd minute, Wanderers doubled their advantage through a well placed shot from midfielder Wisdom Mpinganjira who capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot calmly into the bottom corner.
At 2–0, the technical panel on the Bullets bench appeared restless, papers flying and instructions shouted in vain. Wanderers’ bench, on the other hand, was all smiles focused but composed. The derby was slipping from Bullets’ grasp, and everyone in the stadium knew it.
The defining moment arrived in the 83rd minute. A loose back pass from Andrew Jovinala was pounced upon by the ever alert Blessings Singini who made no mistake in burying his second of the afternoon. It was the final blow. The blue side of Kamuzu Stadium erupted once more as the red side began to thin out fans leaving quietly, heads bowed.
“It was all about focus and discipline,” said Wanderers’ head coach Mark Harrison after the match in an interview.
“We respected the opposition but we also knew their weaknesses. The boys followed the plan perfectly. Singini was outstanding, but this was a team effort defensively solid and tactically sharp,” he added.
Harrison, now visibly relaxed, praised his players for maintaining composure even after taking the lead.
He said: “Derbies can be emotional,” he added, “but we wanted to play our football. The result is a statement, not just for us but for our supporters who’ve waited for this moment.”
On the opposite end, Bullets’ head coach Calisto Pasuwa struggled to hide his disappointment.
“We didn’t turn up today,” he admitted candidly. “We made basic mistakes and lost shape early. Wanderers punished every error. It’s painful, but football is about learning and responding.”
Pasuwa, who has guided Bullets to multiple titles in recent years, promised an internal review.
“We can’t dwell on this result,” he said.
“We need to go back, fix our defensive organization and restore confidence. The fans deserve better than what we showed today,” he said.
The post match scenes told their own story. Wanderers players danced arm in arm in front of their jubilant supporters while Bullets’ end of the stadium emptied in silence.
Again the “mwana ndi mwana” chant that often resonates from the red stand never surfaced this time; it was a day for the Nomads.
As the sun dipped over Blantyre, one thing was certain, this was more than just a win, it was a statement of intent from Wanderers. The 3–0 scoreline will be etched in the city’s football folklore, a reminder that in Blantyre pride can swing in a single afternoon.
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