FCB 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.

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.

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). 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.

Bullets were coached by Peter Mponda. The 2023 football season was 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.[citation needed]

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 Malawi Winners (3) 2021, 2023, 2024.

  • Carlsberg Charity Cup: Winners (1): 2012
  • Presidential Cup: Winners (2): 2012, 2016
  • Chifundo Charity Shield: Winners (3): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022

Continental

Performance in CAF competitions

2000 – Preliminary round 2004 – Group stage 2015 – First Round 2018–19 – Preliminary round 2019–20 – Preliminary round 2020–21 – Withdrew 2021–22 – First Round

1975: Second Round 1979: Withdrew in First Round 1993: Withdrew in preliminary round

1976 – First Round 1977 – Second Round 1997 – First Round 1998 – Preliminary round 1999 – First Round

Current men's squad

As of January 2025 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.NationPlayer
No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK MWI Innocent Nyasulu 2 DF MWI Erick Kaonga 3 MF MWI Lloyd Banega Aaron 4 DF MWI Nickson Nyasulu 5 MF MWI Blessing Mpokera 6 DF MWI John Lanjesi 7 MF MWI Frank Willard 8 DF MWI Precious Sambani 9 MF MWI Mike Mkwate 10 FW MWI Hassan Kajoke 11 MF MWI Ernest Petro 12 MF MWI Righteous Banda 13 MF MWI Alick Lungu 14 DF MWI Yamikani Fodya 15 DF KEN Clyde Seneji 16 DF MWI Gomezgan ChirwaNo. Pos. Nation Player 17 GK MWI Clever Mkungula {{Fs player|no=19|nat=Malawi|name=Mphatso Magombo|pos=FW}} 20 FW MWI Lanjesi Nkhoma 21 MF MWI Precious Phiri 22 FW MWI Anthony Mfune 23 MF MWI Stanley Billiat 24 GK MWI Richard Chimbamba 25 MF MWI McFallen Mgwira 26 DF MWI Kesten Simbi 27 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
1GKMWIInnocent Nyasulu
2DFMWIErick Kaonga
3MFMWILloyd Banega Aaron
4DFMWINickson Nyasulu
5MFMWIBlessing Mpokera
6DFMWIJohn Lanjesi
7MFMWIFrank Willard
8DFMWIPrecious Sambani
9MFMWIMike Mkwate
10FWMWIHassan Kajoke
11MFMWIErnest Petro
12MFMWIRighteous Banda
13MFMWIAlick Lungu
14DFMWIYamikani Fodya
15DFKENClyde Seneji
16DFMWIGomezgan Chirwa
No.Pos.NationPlayer
17GKMWIClever Mkungula {{Fs player|no=19|nat=Malawi|name=Mphatso Magombo|pos=FW}}
20FWMWILanjesi Nkhoma
21MFMWIPrecious Phiri
22FWMWIAnthony Mfune
23MFMWIStanley Billiat
24GKMWIRichard Chimbamba
25MFMWIMcFallen Mgwira
26DFMWIKesten Simbi
27DFKENCollins Okumu
28DFMWIYankho Singo
29MFMWIPatrick Mwaungulu
30FWMWIMaxwell Gastin Phodo
31MFMWIChawanangwa Gumbo
32MFZIMKenneth Pasuwa
33FWMWIEphraim Kondowe

Club officials/technical team

  • Chief Executive Officer: Malawi Suzgo Nyirenda
  • Board President: Malawi Konrad Buckle
  • Board Members: Malawi 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: Zimbabwe Kalisto Pasuwa
  • Assistant coach: Malawi Peter Mponda (1st), Malawi Heston Munthali (2nd)
  • Team Manager:Malawi James Chilapondwa
  • Goalkeeper Trainer: Malawi Swadick Sanudi
  • Team Doctor:Malawi Felix Mwalule
  • Kitmaster:Malawi Malumbo Chikoko
  • Media Manager:Malawi Kimpho Loka

External links