Malawi Super League champions Nyasa Big Bullets have released eight players, including former South Africa’s Orlando Pirates striker Chiukepo Msowoya and ex-Lusaka Dynamos winger Dalitso Sailesi in a major clear-out.
Zimbabwean coach Kalisto Pasuwa, who will certainly chase a fourth consecutive league title ahead of the new season, has deemed the eight experienced players as surplus to requirement.
“Nyasa Big Bullets Football Club will not be renewing contracts of some players whose deals have come to an end,” Bullets’ statement reads.
“These players are Dalitso Sailesi, Chiukepo Msowoya, Chimango Kayira, Sankhani Mkandawire, Nelson Kangunje, Bright Munthali, Zicco Mkanda and Pilirani Zonda. We thank all the above players for their contributions to the club and we wish them all the best for the future.”
Msowoya hardly featured for Bullets last season but proved his value to the team on the international stage, as he was their leading scorer at Cecafa Club Championship held in Tanzania last year.
Msowoya also scored the lone winner as Bullets stunned AmaZulu 1-0 in Durban, South Africa, in a CAF Champions League preliminary round first leg match, followed by a 3-1 loss in Lilongwe.
The decision to let go Mkandawire, who marshalled the defence last season and even earned late call up to AFCON last month before failing to make it due to Covid, comes a surprise.
The release of Sailesi has not come as a surprise as he had not been his lively self since severing ties with Dynamos in Zambia over unfulfilled contractual obligations four seasons ago.
Pasuwa has axed the eight players days after promoting striker Stanley Biliat, 18, and left-back GiftJana, 22 from Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve to the first team.
Pasuwa said he had faith in the up-and-coming players who are part of the squad undergoing pre-season training in Southern Region lakeshore district of Mangochi.
“By calling them [Biliat and Jana] to train with the main team, it gives us an option to see them play for the team, hence the reason to include them for the pre-season training so that we may encourage others to perform better and follow suit,” Pasuwa told Bullets website.
Bullets, the 15-time Malawi champions, will play in the Ecobank Charity Shield slated from February 21 to 22, before the TNM Super League kick off a week later.