Bullets celebrate 19 trophies in 12 seasons

When Nyasa Big Bullets lifted the Castel Challenge Cup following a 2-1 victory over Goshen City Dedza Dynamos on February 21, it marked more than just another trophy celebration. It was the club’s 38th trophy since 1986 when they first won the Gillet Nacet National Super League and the 19th major title in 12 seasons of sustained dominance that has redefined excellence in Malawi football landscape. From ownership, reform and youth investment to a historic quadruple and continental ambition, Bullets’ 12-season reign has reshaped Malawian football on-and-off the pitch.

In those 12 seasons, top-flight league titles have been secured with authority while conquering cup competitions with consistency. In 2023, Bullets completed what no domestic side had managed before, winning the league, the Airtel Top 8, the FDH Bank Cup and the inaugural Castel Challenge Cup. He said: “The 2017 takeover by Nyasa Manufacturing Company marked a decisive turning point in Bullets’ modern history.

It was more than a financial intervention. It was a structural reset that reshaped the club’s identity and direction. “The club departed from its traditional supporters-led model and transitioned into a professionally managed entity structured as a Limited Company.

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In so doing, Bullets became the first football club in Malawi to fully commercialise its operations under a corporate governance framework. Buckle led the process under NMC ownership, supported by Fleetwood Haiya, Escort Chinula, Dimitri and Demo Kalaitzis, among others, who were instrumental in stabilising the club’s governance architecture. In subsequent years, Haiya and Chinula, who both served as chief executive officers during the reform phase, rose to national prominence.

Haiya was elected Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president in 2023 before ascending to the presidency of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) later that year. Chinula, who currently serves as Bullets’ vice-president, was elected as a board member of the Malawi National Council of Sports in 2025. Jim Kalua, who was also part of the transition process as one of the trustees, now serves as Sports Council board chairperson.

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