Big Bullets F.C.
| Full name | Big Bullets Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Peoples Team | ||
| Founded | 1967 | ||
| Ground |
Kamuzu Stadium Blantyre, Malawi | ||
| Capacity | 50,000 | ||
| Chairman | Malinda Chinyama | ||
| Manager | Elijah Kananji | ||
| League | TNM Super League | ||
| 2012–13 | 2nd | ||
|
| |||
Big Bullets (BB) is a Malawian football (soccer) club based in Blantyre and by unconfirmed statistics, Malawi's popular football club and has dominated the country's major soccer league, TNM Super League, since it was formed in 1967.
History
Big Bullets is best supported and most successful team ever in the football history of Malawi and current estimates of its support base is over 6,000,000 (6 million) soccer followers across the length and breadth of the country.To establish a true reflection of the Clubs dedicated fans,It is intended to register all BB Supporters through Regions and Districts Zones, and enter their details in a database. This information, apart from assisting BB, can also be commercially exploited and be a market research tool.
BB is arguably the most known and successful football team in Malawi. It is currently playing in the TNM Super League and has played in the top flight league since its inception in 1967. It set a record for 7 successive title defences before surrendering it about five years ago, due to financial problems. During its enviable life,the Big Bullets have won every honor in the Country.Beyond borders also,the side left its indelible mark;way back in 1979,the Club won a bronze medal in the East and Central Africa Club Championship hosted by Somalia. Four years earlier,Big Bullets were the pioneer side to join the Africa Club Championship competition.
Big Bullets Football Club (BB) also known as the 'Peoples Team'.The club was originally formed in 1967 with an innovative and exciting approach to establishing a successful club in the country. Since its formation, the club remains the most successful, winning many championships and club cup competitions.
The Bata Bullets of the 1990s had great combination of players like Lawrence Lule Waya, John Phiri, John Banda, Mabvuto Lungu, Acton Munthali, Richard Tuwiche Mambelera, George Mtapo Waya, Patrick Mabedi, Mzee Josamu, Lawrence Mnenula, Nelson George, Gilbert Chirwa, Brian Maulidi, Lawrent Kamanga, James Mandambwe, Jephry Lajabu Chancy Vinny Gondwe and it was a indeed A team full of talented players.
Players like skilled young bullets Acton Munthali, Jones Nkhwazi, Chikondi Banda, James Chimera, Andrew Chikhosi, James Chimera, Muzipansi Mwangonde carried on the vision of the old timers ... and many of them like Jones "Speed Link" Nkhwazi, Actol Munthali the player who had powerful shorts, who amazed people with his skills against Bafana Bafana 1996 World Cup preliminaries at the Chichiri Stadium in the city of Blantyre, people live to remember this footballer and scored many goals from far for his club BB, James Chimera and Christopher John Banda as well as Patrick Mabedi made it to put on the national colors!!!
BB is called the "People’s Team" – a team that is the heart and soul of close to three million Malawians. It is a team that is also said to immortalise the spirits – "Timu ya Mizimu"
People cannot talk of football in Malawi without BB being part of that talk. Supporters of Big Bullets Football Club span across all the facets of politics and religion. BB is legendary and famed for many reasons, most important of which is its huge home success.
The club was formed by a group of players in Blantyre in 1967 from its local archrivals Mighty Wanderers by then was composed of only Whites and Colored, all blacks were sidelined because of this reason all blacks players thought wise to come up with their own team which was known as Nyasaland Bullets. The team was very strong and started winning all games which were played. BB and Mighty Wanderers rivalry started because of Yasin Osman in 1968 after shown interest to join Bullets FC, Wanderers Fans were very furious and decided to sell him at 100 Malawian pounds. Yasin Osman went into Malawi Soccer History being a first player to be sold. The history of the rivalry between MTL Wanderers and Big Bullets could be likened to that of Everton and Liverpool of the FA Premier League. Just like the latter, Big Bullets was formed out of MTL Wanderers in the late 1960s and have enjoyed more success than the 'parent' club. Many of those players went on to be legends in the history of the game of football in Malawi.
The club got its first name, Bata Bullets, because of the fact that Bata Shoe Company was the first sponsor of the team. The majority of its players at the time ended up being employed by Bata Shoe Company. Over the years, BB has been the biggest contributor to the Malawi National Team both at senior and at youth levels.
Malawian soccer legends such as Kinnah Electric Phiri, Charles Kagwa, Henry Moyo, Kanjedza Kamwendo, Damiano Malefula, Yasin Osman, Henry Kapalamula, Mustafa Munshi, Dennis Saidi, Spy Msiska, Elywin Mwafulirwa, Mike Mkuntha, Bosco Munthali, Thom Kazembe, Topsy Msuku, Harvest Kanyenda, Tonny Mkandawire, Ngulube, Greyson Simika, Elton Mkondowaguluka, Harry Barbed Waya, Lawrence Lule Waya, Gilbert Chirwa, Chauncy Vinny Gondwe, Mabvuto Lungu and Patrick Mabedi just to mention a few are some of the players that have come from the team's ranks. Kinnah Phiri is current coach for Malawi National Team
Recent stars plying their trade in South Africa such as Peter Mponda, Robert Ng’ambi, Fisher Kondowe, Grant Lungu, Jimmy Zakazaka, Sankhani Mkandawire and Swadick Sanudi have also sprung out of the Big Bullets FC.
In regard to the club activities, the Executive Committee is seeking to lock down the principles that will serve us well moving forward. Words are easy to put on a page but we are committed to "walking the talk" and branding ourselves as truly the "People's Team". The club has already implemented a business plan addressing the club house so as to promote the club to generate its own revenue and resources.The team in total has won forty one (41) cups in which eleven titles are for leagues, including the record setting seven titles whose sequence was broken by their sworn rivals, MTL Wanderers in 2006.
While the Bullets have had unparalleled success on the field of play, the same cannot be said of their sponsorship. Bankrolled by the shoe making company, Bata Shoe Company, since its formation (and known as "Bata Bullets"), the people's team (as it is popularly known in Malawi), faced uncertainty when that marriage was dissolved in 2000. The oil giant, Total Malawi, took over and renamed it Total Big Bullets, sponsoring the team for the next two years before the arrangement was terminated.
In 2003, the then Malawi's 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.
But it was a feat never to be repeated as Muluzi, now of power, opted out of the sponsorship arrangement in 2004. This left the team in a clutch, and in keeping with the acronym 'BB', the team's faithful changed the name to Big Bullets. The team completed two seasons, 2005 and 2006, without sponsorship but in late December 2006, the people's team secured a sponsorship deal with a South African-based but Malawi-owned company, Cifu Group owned by the Msiska twins, Fumu and Phaskani. However this year 2010 has seen Bullets FC struggling beyond doubt. Currently the team has no official sponsor following the termination of its contract with Bullets Holdings who could no longer financially aid the team. The team has since experienced its major loss of players this season because of lack of sponsorship. Bullets F.C also known as the People's Team has since embarked in various fundraisers to maintain survival but in a world controlled by money it has not been easy yet the team manages to cling on to its last pieces.
The formation of a brand new Executive Committee for the 2011–12 football season will hopefully see us reach the success experienced in the late 1960s and beyond. The main focus for the committee is to raise the profile of the club, and offer a family friendly, supportive organization to attract new players, sponsors and supporters to our club.
Some of the biggest names in the Bullets FC of today include Goalkeepers Swadick Sanudi, MacDonald Harawa, Vincet Gona, Kingsley Manda, brilliant defenders Chikumbutso Jet Lee Kanyenda, Yamikani Fodya, Yamikani Tambala, Wyson Nkana Midfielders Douglas Section 65 Chirambo, Fundi Akidu Lufeyo Jeresi, Henry Kabichi, Luka Zaire Muyawa, Wyle Tembenu, Luka Jere Strikers Gabhadinyo Mhango, Gofrey Musonda, Komani Msiska, Mpetiwa and Divarson Mlozi who is the past season have shown great games to their supporters.
Kamuzu 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 (Sports House).
The Blantyre derby
The Blantyre derby between Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers is one of the most fiercely contested matches in world football, 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.
Achievements
- Castle Cup: 4
- 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975
- Kamuzu Cup: 7
- 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986
- 555 Challenge Cup: 1
- 1990
- BAT Sportsman Trophy: 3
- 1999, 2001, 2002
- Embassy Trophy: 1
- 2003
- Chombe Tea: 2
- 1998, 1999
- Carlsberg Cup: 1
- 2002
- TNM Super League: 11
- 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
- Tutulane Charity Cup: 1
- 2007
- Carlsberg Charity Cup: 1
- 2012
- Presidential Cup: 1
- 2012
- Bonanza: 1
GO TV 2013 Orange Parterners 2013 Luso TV 2013
Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Champions League: 2 appearances
- 2000 – Preliminary Round
- 2004 – Group Stage
- African Cup of Champions Clubs: 3 appearance
- 1975: Second Round
- 1979: withdrew in First Round
- 1993: withdrew in Preliminary Round
- CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 5 appearances
- 1976 – First Round
- 1977 – Second Round
- 1997 – First Round
- 1998 – Preliminary Round
- 1999 – First Round
Current Squad 2014–15
As of 05 May 2014 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Squad 2012–13
As of 28 September 2012 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Current Squad 2011–12
As of 9 September 2011 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Club officials/Technical team
- Executive chairman:
Kondi Msungama - Vice Executive chairman: Austin Kasito
- Head Coach:
Nswanzarwimo Ramadhan - Assistant coach: Lloyd Nkhwazi
- Team Manager: John Phiri
- Assistant Team Manager: Fundi Akidu
- Goalkeeper Trainer: Swadick Sanudi
- Team Doctor: Ambokile Ghambi
- Team Secretary: Harold Fote
- Team Treasure: Alex Gondwe
- Kitmaster: Malumbo Chikoko
CAF Squad 2003
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Former players
|
|
|
Notable players
|
|
|
External links
Michael Kaimfa (Attacking Midfeilder) Damiano Dinkey Malefula (Attacking Midfielder) Jones Mberere George Martin Peterkings Kayira (Attacking Midfielder / Striker) Levi Hara Levi Hara (Goalkeeper) Isaac Msuku (Midfielder) Richard Mambelera Lewrence Mnenula Afik Sikelo (Defender) Acton Munthali (Winger) George Martin (Defender) Dino Lobell (Midfielder) Laurent Kamanga Harry Kumwenda Ian Banda Mphatso Namwali