Nyasa Big Bullets FC

Nyasa Big Bullets
Full name	Nyasa Big Bullets Football Club
Nickname(s)	The People’s Team; ; Maule; ; Mapale; ;
Short name	NBB
Founded	1966; 58 years ago
Ground	Kamuzu Stadium
Capacity	65,000
Coach	Callisto Pasuwa
League	TNM Super League
2024	TNM Super League, 3rd of 16
Website	nyasabigbullets.com
Home colours	Away colours

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.

History

The 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

Kamuzu 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

The 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

Domestic

Super League of Malawi:
- Winners (17): 1986, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020–21, 2022, 2023
- Runners-up (4): 2008, 2012–13, 2016, 2017
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

Kagame Interclub Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2021

Performance in CAF competitions

CAF Champions League: 7 appearances

2000 – Preliminary round

2004 – Group stage

2015 – First Round

2018–19 – Preliminary round

2019–20 – Preliminary round

2020–21 – Withdrew

2021–22 – First Round

African Cup of Champions Clubs: 3 appearances

1975: Second Round

1979: Withdrew in First Round

1993: Withdrew in preliminary round

CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 5 appearances

1976 – First Round

1977 – Second Round

1997 – First Round

1998 – Preliminary round

1999 – First Round

Current squad

As of August 2023 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	MWI	Rabson Chiyenda
2	MF	MWI	Erick Kaonga
3	DF	MWI	Nickson Nyasulu
4	MF	MWI	Blessing Mpokera
5	DF	MWI	John Lanjesi
6	MF	MWI	Frank Willard
7	DF	MWI	Precious Sambani
8	MF	MWI	Mike Mkwate
9	FW	MWI	Hassan Kajoke
10	MF	MWI	Ernest Petro
11	MF	MWI	Righteous Banda
12	MF	MWI	Alick Lungu
13	DF	MWI	Yamikani Fodya
14	DF	KEN	Clyde Seneji
15	DF	MWI	Gomezgan Chirwa


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
16	GK	MWI	Clever Mkungula
17	MF	MWI	Henry Kabichi
18	FW	MWI	Mphatso Magombo
19	FW	MWI	Lanjesi Nkhoma
20	MF	MWI	Precious Phiri
21	FW	MWI	Anthony Mfune
22	MF	MWI	Stanley Billiat
23	GK	MWI	Richard Chimbamba
24	MF	MWI	McFallen Mgwira
25	DF	MWI	Kesten Simbi
26	DF	KEN	Collins Okumu
28	DF	MWI	Yankho Singo
29	MF	MWI	Patrick Mwaungulu
30	FW	MWI	Maxwell Gastin Phodo
31	MF	MWI	Chawanangwa Gumbo
32	MF	ZIM	Kenneth Pasuwa
33	FW	MWI	Ephraim Kondowe

Club officials/technical team

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

^ "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.

External links

[1] "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.

[2] "CAF – CAF Error Page". cafonline.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.

[3] ttp://championsleague.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=280^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[4] "Match Report – Boston United vs Bakili Bullets". bufc.drfox.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2018.

[5] 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.

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