Nyasa Big Bullets have one hand on the TNM Super League trophy- and the second hand is edging closer and closer than ever before.
The People’s Team returns to league action on Wednesday with their final away from home fixture to Mighty Tigers FC at Mpira Stadium.
Sitting top of the standings with 61 points from 26 matches, a win on Wednesday will take them one step to title defense and they will only need a point on Saturday against Moyale Barracks FC to officially retain the title as their closest challengers Blue Eagles’ maximum points from their two remaining games are 65.
When the giants do clinch the title, it would represent an incredible fourth consecutive league victory for Bullets and 16th title since its inspection.
From the fixtures released by Super League of Malawi, Bullets have been given two games to go level on number of games played with Eagles.
A win in these two matches, especially on Wednesday, will all but end Eagles’ slight hopes of a miraculous season which would have seen them snatching the title away from Bullets.
But knowing Kalisto Pasuwa’s men, slipping up with few games left to play is never part of their dictionary. Rather, they are the masters of snatching the title away from title contenders who, at some point, would lead the table with more points over them.
For example, in 2020/21 season, Silver Strikers led the standings for the better part of the season and at one time were 11 points clear at the top. But the Bankers allowed Bullets to launch a comeback and snatch the title after they moved to the top of the summit few games into the second round.
Having last claimed Super League silverware when they won the 2013 league title, it was a missed opportunity for the area 47 based giants.
In 2019 season, Bullets were 6th placed side at the end of the first round and their rivals, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers had a massive 12 points lead over them going into the final 15 games of the season.
But Wanderers lost to Moyale Barracks 3-2 at Kamuzu Stadium on a day in which Bullets won their game to reduce it to two points.
To make matters worse, the Nomads lost again to Blue Eagles on the very same day that Bullets beat Mzuzu Warriors and the team climbed to the top of the summit till the final day of matches which they eventually won and crowned champions.
And on Wednesday, they go again, a step closer to winning the league, Red moon rising and another trophy will be added to their cabinet.
What will happen if Bullets lose on Wednesday?
Of course, they will still be hot favorites for the title considering that they will have three games to play at home and knowing how difficult they are to beat at home, it will just be a matter of time for them to lift the trophy.
They have 61 points and they only need four points to reach Eagles’ 65-point mark which is their final tally if they win the remaining two games.
Mathematically, Eagles are still in the race but realistically, the title is for Bullets to lose.
Top Four Battle
With Bullets on the verge of winning the league, the focus will now be on who will finish in the too four, specially on second position currently being occupied by Eagles.
Eagles, Kamuzu Barracks and Mighty Wanderers are all fighting for the second position and possibly the top four but Silver Strikers, who are currently fourth in the standings with 51 points are completely out of the contention to make it in the top four after finishing their games and are just a point above Wanderers who have 50 points but they have four more games left to play.
As it is, Eagles are clear favorites for a second position finish after they won last week to take their tally to 59 points from 28 games. If Wanderers win their two games in hand, they will manage to dislodge KB in third but they will have 56 points, three points behind Eagles with same number of games played.
Wanderers will play Moyale Barracks, Red Lions, Sable Farming and Civil Service United in their final league matches whilst Eagles will host TN Stars and Mafco FC in their final two matches.
Maximum points for Wanderers are 62 whilst Eagles are 65. This means Eliya Kananji’s side are just one win away from securing the second position.
Relegation battle
Two back-to-back defeats for Sable Farming in Lilongwe to Blue Eagles and Silver Strikers confirmed the team’s relegation to the second tier of Malawian football in the Southern Region Football League.
This means the Chiradzulu based side has joined TN Stars and Rumphi United as the three teams to say good bye to the top flight league.
It also means Red Lions and Tigers are safe from relegation and now they will just be focused on winning their remaining games to finish the season on a very high note.
Below is the fixture list for week 31
Wednesday, 9th November, 2022
-Mighty Mukuru Wanderers vs Moyale Barracks
-Mighty Tigers vs Nyasa Big Bullets
-Kamuzu Barracks vs TN Stars
-Mafco vs Karonga United
Saturday, 12 November, 2022
-Nyasa Big Bullets vs Moyale Barracks
-TN Stars vs Karonga United
Sunday, 13th November, 2022
-Mighty Mukuru Wanderers vs Civil Service United
-Ekwendeni Hammers vs Kamuzu Barracks
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