By Michael Kachitsa
Nyasa Big Bullets (NBB) is a Malawian football (soccer) club based in Blantyre. Bullets are regarded as the number one football club in Malawi in terms of supporters, league title winning and financial background.
It was formerly known as Bata Bullets then Total Big Bullets and 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. Currently the team is sponsored by Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC). Its nickname ever since is Maulle (native language for bullets)
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 to be sold.
The history of the rivalry between MTL Wanderers and Big Bullets could be likened to that of Everton F.C. and Liverpool F.C. 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.