Bullets win Orange Partners charity shield: Gaba gets golden boot award

Team of the moment Big Bullets FC were on Sunday afternoon crowned champions of the Orange Partners Charity Shield bonanza after they convincingly beat capital city giants Silvers Strikers 2-0 at the jam packed Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.

Midfield workhorse Chimango Kaira opened the score-sheet when he beautifully headed in a Douglas Chirambo cross in the 11th minute of the first half.

The goal gave the visiting side extra power and confidence no wonder they started to take full control of the match.

Bullets FC suffered a huge blow in the last minutes of the second half after their defender Sankhani Mkandawire was sent off for a second bookable offence by referee Leo Ngoleka.

This prompted Bullets supporters to start throwing missiles into the field of play before demolishing the fence which they later mended themselves.

The red card however did not dampen the spirits of Bullets as the team continued to pile pressure on Silver after recess.

Douglas Chirambo extended the lead from a free kick taken from outside the penalty box.

The ball deflected into the net after hitting the human wall sending goalkeeper Amadu Ali the wrong way in the process.

Bullets continued with their entertaining and purposeful style of play.

Silver Strikers missed a number of scoring opportunities with Green Harawa and Wondeful Jeremani the main culprits.

The Bankers made two substitutions resting Ndaona Daisi and Jester Mulima bringing in Dave Moya and Asedi Ayami but to no avail.

But it was Bullets substitution of Gabadinho Mhango which paid dividends as the youthful striker registered his name on the score sheet few minutes after being introduced.

He capitalised on a blunder by Wonderful Jeremani who wanted to play a square ball to the right flank only for the ball to land on Gabadinho’s foot who connected into the net.

Gaba’s goal sent Bullets supporters into wild celebrations.

Silver score the consolation goal through substitute Dave Moya in the dying minutes of the game.

At the end of 90 minutes Silver 1 Bullets 3.

Silver had a relief as midfielder Young Chimodzi Junior was voted man of the match and went away with K20,000.00.

Chairperson of the Orange Partner Organising Committee, George Tambala, said they wanted to raise K10 million (about $25 000) for flood victims in Phalombe, Chikhwawa, Mangochi, Nsanje, Salima and Karonga.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive member James Mwenda thanked Orange Partners for using football to raise money for flood victims.

Competitions Awards

At the end of the two day tournament, Bullets FC swept all the  individual awards with the only fair play award going to Epac and they received K50,000.00.

Gabadinho Mhango and Chimango Kaira won the joint golden boot award and went away with K10,000.00 each.

Owen Chaima was voted best goalkeeper of the tournament.