We are not ready—Bullets
Big Bullets FC technical director Billy Tewesa has said his team is not ready to start their TNM Super League championship defence title this weekend against Silver Strikers, but have reluctantly accepted due to Super League of Malawi’s (Sulom) insistence.
Tewesa said they will travel to Lilongwe just to fulfil the fixture.
“We are going to Lilongwe just because we are afraid of sanctions from Sulom, otherwise to be honest with you, I do not think we are ready and in the spirit of sportsmanship they needed to understand our plea and exempt us from this weekend’s fixture.
“But since they run the show, let them do as they please. We will make the trip all the same,” he said.
Tewesa said apart from the players being exhausted due to lack of rest, the team is battling a severe cash squeeze coupled with other internal problems.
“Our players have not rested since the end of last season due to a crammed diary that included participation in the CAF Champions League, culminating in the trip to Rumphi to attend Douglas Chirambo’s funeral before proceeding to Mzuzu and Lilongwe for GOtv and charity matches respectively. We fear player burnout.
“Sulom is also quite aware of the internal problems we have, they are the ones who advised us to put our house in order, but surprisingly, they still insist that we should play. Besides that, we do not have money and as a result we have not even concluded the process of player registration,” said Tewesa.
But Sulom treasurer Tiya Somba-Banda said Bullets knew all along that the league would start on April 18 and, therefore, should have planned for the season.
“Their internal problems should not affect the league calendar. If we dance to their tune then we are not being objective, but subjective in our operations.
“They had an opportunity to rest after their CAF tournament exit, but they decided to play in the GOtv Challenge and another charity match in Lilongwe when they could have excused themselves. For argument’s sake, what would have happened had they progressed in the CAF Champions League?” wondered Somba-Banda.
