Big Bullets take Fomboni head-on

After getting a taste of local guavas, which they fell in love with on arrival, players of the Comoros outfit Fomboni FC this afternoon turn their focus to serious business when they plunge into battle against Big Bullets FC in a CAF Champions League preliminary round return-leg tie at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

While Bullets appear to have a spring in their step going into the showdown having won the first leg 1-0 away in Moroni a fortnight ago, football is such a capricious sport that has given the world countless examples of brave minnows who went into battle with the odds stacked heavily against them, but emerged triumphant.

A draw will propel Bullets to the next round, but any other result against Bullets could prove fatal and it just shows that Fomboni are not far off.

One does not need to be draped in a mask of patriotism to realise that although Bullets are favourites, it will certainly not be a stroll in the park against Fomboni, who matched them pound-for-pound in that first-leg encounter in which it took Tizgobere Kumwenda’s last-gasp strike in the second of the four added minutes to separate the two teams.

Nevertheless, the win was the perfect tonic Bullets needed as they revived their romantic flirtation with the premier African club showcase after 11 years in the wilderness.

Bullets battle-hardened captain Fischer Kondowe admitted that contrary to expectations, it will not be an easy game.

“It is a team that cannot be underrated because where they lack in individual skills, they make it up in teamwork and they fight for each other. That is why they were able to frustrate us in the first leg,” said Fischer in an interview on Wednesday. He was part of the 2004 Bullets ‘Dream Team’ that defied the odds to reach the group stages.

While acknowledging that they have a tough task, Fischer declared that Bullets will still emerge triumphant.

Bullets coach Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan said although Fomboni restricted his side to a narrow win, they are not a tough side.

“I think apart from the fact that we did not know their type of football, there was also an element of underrating them.

“But we have worked on our shortfalls and the players are raring to go. Even those that did not travel to the Comoros such as Ian Chinyama, Jelesi Lufeyo and Dalitso Siliva have shown hunger and want to make the team this time around,” said Ramadhan, who also believes the Bullets faithful, popularly known as ‘Mapalestina’ or the “red army’, will create an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors.

Apart from that, fatigue could also affect Fomboni who arrived in the early hours of Thursday after a wearisome 2 000-kilometre road trip from Dar es Salaam where they flew to on Monday.

In the first leg, Bullets who thrive on wing attacks, were closed down and, time and again, Fischer and Dave Ng’ambi who operated from the flanks swapped positions, but yielded nothing.

Central midfielder Victor Limbani, who orchestrates Bullets’ play by controlling the engine room, was out of sorts while playmaker Dalitso Sailesi was reduced to the bench, further crippling their attacking options.

That said, Henry Kabichi provided the shield as a defending midfielder and the defence which comprised Sankhani Mkandawire, Bashir Maunde, Pilirani Zonda and, in particular, Yamikani Fodya, was rock-solid.

Goalkeeper Vincent Gona was the man-of-the-match with breath-taking saves that denied the hosts’ not once, not twice, but thrice in one-on-one situations. He twice denied Fomboni’s Malawian midfielder Wister Phiri.

Fomboni rely on building up attacks through  the wings where Phiri and Chadida Mbalia often forced Bullets defence into rearguard action with his swift runs, but there was no end product in

While admitting that they anticipate an intimidating atmosphere today from the home fans, Phiri said they are determined to upset the tables.

“The pressure is there considering Bullets’ huge fan-base that has the potential to make it difficult for us to play according to plan.

“Our team is not used to playing in front of huge crowds, but we will try,” said Phiri.

He also said goalkeeper Zairou Toilidou Assane, who suffered high blood pressure upon arrival, will be available for selection.

Winners of this game are likely to face Al-Hilal of Sudan who carry a two-goal lead going into the second-leg tie against KMKM of Zanzibar in Zanzibar.

While Bullets have won the domestic flagship league a record 10 times since its inception in 1986, Fomboni have only won the Comoros national club championship twice (in 2001 and 2014) and according to records, the most successful club in the Comors is Coin Nord who have won the league seven times followed by Elan Club (three times).