Big 3 teams speak on just-ended season

The three big guns, Mighty Wanderers, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers, who shared the four top domestic silverware, have described the just-ended 2025 season as a mixed bag. The Nomads won the top-flight league and were runners-up in the FDH Bank Cup, the People’s Team clinched the Castel Challenge Cup, Aitel Top 8 and were runners-up in the Super League while the Bankers won the FDH Bank Cup, were runners-up in the Airtel Top 8 and finished third in the league. Wanderers chief executive officer (CEO) Panganeni Ndovi described the season as one of their best in recent seasons, despite missing out on cup tournaments.

He said: “The previous season stands as one of the finest we have had in recent times. It was a campaign characterised by consistency, resilience, discipline and an unrelenting determination to restore Mighty to its rightful stature, to make Mighty mighty again. “After eight years in the wilderness, reclaiming the league title was not merely a statistical achievement, it was a statement of identity and purpose.

Finishing as runners-up in the FDH Bank Cup and bowing out of the CAF Confederation Cup on post-match penalties further demonstrate that we competed at the highest levels with courage and organisation.” He said the fact that they lost only three matches in open play the entire season against Jwaneng Galaxy of Botswana in CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round, Mzuzu City Hammers 2-1 in the league and 2-0 to Karonga United in the Airtel Top 8 speaks volumes about the structure, mentality and tactical discipline of the team. “Our supporters once again demonstrated unmatched passion and organisation, earning the Best Supporters accolade for the second successive season, a testament to the unity between the team and its faithful.” That said, he admitted that It was unfortunate that they failed to defend the Castel Cup after going down 5-3 to Hammers in the quarter-finals. He said: “That said, it would be disingenuous to hide behind fatigue as an excuse.

[paywall]

It is not an excuse, it is a lesson. We deliberately set out to compete in every competition we entered, and we stretched ourselves accordingly. In doing so, we have gained valuable institutional insight into squad depth, rotation management and competition prioritisation.

“In sum, it was a defining season, one that restored belief, delivered silverware, and laid a credible foundation for sustained excellence going forward.” On his part, Bullets acting CEO Albert Chigoga said despite losing to their rivals Mighty Wanderers thrice and finishing as runners-up in the league, it was not a bad season. “Winning two trophies signifies a successful end of the season. We were written off.

We were doubted. Amidst the disparaging and doubts, we have won two cups. Bullets is a giant club,” he said. “We might have lost six league matches, but finishing second, three points short of the champions, was testimony that we weren’t far off.” On the other hand, Silver CEO Patrick Chimimba said: “We could have done better, but we understand that we changed coach which meant a change in philosophy and tactics.

[/paywall]