Nyasa Big Bullets is a Malawian professional association football club based in Blantyre, currently playing in the TNM Super League, the top division of Malawian football. The club was formerly known as Bata Bullets, Total Big Bullets and Bakili Bullets. Nyasa Big Bullets are regarded as the most successful club in Malawian football history, having won the Super League of Malawi a record 17 times.
| Full name | Nyasa Big Bullets Football Club | ||
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| Short name | NBB | ||
| Founded | 1966 | ||
| Ground | Kamuzu Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 65,000 | ||
| Coach | Callisto Pasuwa | ||
| League | TNM Super League | ||
| 2023 | TNM Super League, 1st of 16 (champions) | ||
| Website | nyasabigbullets.com | ||
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History
editThe club was formed in 1967 by a group of players who split from Mighty Wanderers. The original name was Nyasaland Bullets, but the club managed to source good sponsorship from Bata Shoe Company and was renamed as Bata Bullets.[1]
1970 season was a great success as Bullets achieved a treble after winning the Blantyre and Districts Football League (BDFL), the Chibuku Cup and Castle Cup.
In 2003, then Malawi President Bakili Muluzi adopted the team and renamed it Bakili Bullets. It was during this period that the team enjoyed one of its glamorous periods, reaching the lucrative group stages of CAF Champions League 2004.[2][3]
It was also during the same period that the club had a training camp in the United Kingdom in readiness for the CAF Champions League. Currently the team is sponsored by Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC).[4] Its nickname ever since is Maulle (native language for bullets).
On 8 October 2018, Rodgers Yasin was sacked as Nyasa Big Bullets head coach along with assistant Elijah Kananji.[5]
Bullets are currently coached by former Zimbabwe national team manager Callisto Pasuwa. The 2023 football season is one of the most successful for Bullets, they won all four domestic trophies on offer; The TNM SUPER LEAGUE, The Airtel Top 8, The FDH Bank Cup, and The Castel Challenge Cup.
Stadium
editKamuzu Stadium is a stadium located in Blantyre, with a capacity of 50,000 seats. It is located next to the Malawi National Council of Sports Offices.
The Blantyre derby
editThe Blantyre derby between Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers is a fiercely contested match and in contrast to most of the other games played in the Malawi TNM Super League, matches between the two rivals always attract a large fanbase.
Honours
editDomestic
edit- Super League of Malawi:
- Castle Cup (Malawi)
- Winners (4): 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975
- Kamuzu Cup
- Winners (7): 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986
- 555 Challenge Cup:
- Winners (1): 1990
- Embassy Trophy:
- Winners (1): 2003
- Chombe Tea:
- Winners (2): 1998, 1999
- Carlsberg Cup:
- Winners (3): 2002, 2014, 2017
- Tutulane Charity Cup:
- Winners (1): 2007
Airtel Top 8 Cup Winners (1) : 2021
- Carlsberg Charity Cup:
- Winners (1): 2012
- Presidential Cup:
- Winners (2): 2012, 2016
- Chifundo Charity Shield:
- Winners (3): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022
Continental
edit- Kagame Interclub Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2021
Performance in CAF competitions
edit- CAF Champions League: 7 appearances
- African Cup of Champions Clubs: 3 appearances
- CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 5 appearances
Current squad
editAs of August 2023 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club officials/technical team
edit- Chief Executive Officer:
Suzgo Nyirenda - Board President: Konrad Buckle
- Board Members: 1. Stone Mwamadi, 2. Fleetwood Haiya, 3. Malinda Chinyama, 4.Sadick Malinga, 5. Dimitri Kalaitzis, 6.Democrotos Kalaitzis, 7 Rev. Moyenda Kanjerwa, 8. Chifundo Makande, 9.Albert Chigoga, 10. Noel Lipipa, 11. Konrad Buckle, 12. Escort Chinula
- Head Coach:
Kalisto Pasuwa - Assistant coach: Peter Mponda (1st), Heston Munthali (2nd)
- Team Manager: James Chilapondwa
- Goalkeeper Trainer: Swadick Sanudi
- Team Doctor: Felix Mwalule
- Kitmaster: Malumbo Chikoko
- Media Manager: Kimpho Loka
References
edit- ^ "Former Big Bullets most memorable mentor, Team Manager John Gilmore passes on in UK". maraviexpress.com. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "CAF – CAF Error Page". cafonline.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
- ^ http://championsleague.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=280[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Match Report – Boston United vs Bakili Bullets". bufc.drfox.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Kadewere, Jeromy (9 October 2018). "Malawi: Bullets Sack Coaches After Masters Defeat". Nyasa Times (Leeds). Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.