Holders, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets new coach Wedson Nyirenda, gets the show on the road this evening against rejuvenated Ekhaya FC in the Airtel Top 8 quarter-final first leg at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
His debut comes barely three days after being unveiled to the media in Blantyre and while the first days are about connecting with the team and breaking the ice, the decorated tactician is still expected to run the show from behind the scenes.
Nyirenda will be out to start his two-year tenure with a win.
Nyirenda. | Courtesy of Bullets
The People’s Team has won the Zamadolo championship a record four times, including three on the trot leading to the ninth edition.
During his unveiling, the former Zambia National Football Team coach said: “The first task will be to know the players.”
Nyurenda also said he will prioritise restoring the players’ confidence.
“When confidence goes down, people stop believing in themselves. We have to bring them back in alignment with a winning mentality,” he said.
Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said the period that the new coach has been in the country is too short for him to appreciate Bullets’ state.
He said: “That said, the team is not playing badly, of course, they have had too many draws, but these were against teams that are playing well.
“He is taking over a team that is not fractured, but give him three or four games to show what he had got, otherwise it would be a bit too early.”
Commenting on the match, Bullets assistant coach Heston Munthali said they are well prepared.
“The boys are looking sharp and we have briefed the new coach on how the team has been doing and he has been chipping in here and there since he has only been with us for a few days.”
Among others, strikers Clever Kalambo and George Chaomba are the men that carry Bullets’ hopes.
Bullets players will be eager to make an istant impression on their new gaffer as he gets down to work.
On the other hand, Ekhaya coach Enos Chatama said they are anticipating a tough game.
“Cup games are always difficult, so it will depend on how the boys will approach the game. We are up against a big team who are also the holders. So, it won’t be easy,” he said.
centre-back Happy Mphepo said they are set for the showdown.
He said: “We know how they [Bullets] play, the morale in our camp is high and we are raring to go. I am optimistic that we are winning this match.
“Last season, we lost to them narrowly [in both league games] after lapses in concentration, but this time they have no chance.”
Their player-of-the-
moment is Allen Chihana while Blessings Malinda and Aubrey Lumbe also form part of their arsenal.
Though Bullets stand proudly as the only side yet to taste defeat in the FDH Premiership, having won twice and drawn four times, they are on an unenviable sixth position in the 16-team league.
They drew three successive games, which made the team to revive its hunt for a new coach.
On the other hand, the Cowboys appear to have turned the corner after a slow start, which saw them winning once in four matches.
They have now won two more successive games and are a step above Bullets, but the two teams are tied on points and are separated by goal difference which makes today’s encounter interesting.
Playing earlier on at the same venue, Blue Eagles host fellow capital city side Civil Service United.
While the Malawi Police Service outfit has won the tournament once, the Civil Servants are still chasing their first Airtel Top 8 silverware to join local greats that have won it before.
Tomorrow, top-flight league champions Mighty Wanderers host struggling Creck Sporting Club at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre, while last year’s losing finalists, Silver Strikers, face Karonga United at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
In the match between the Nomads and Creck Sporting, the centre of focus will be former Flames coach and legend Ernest ‘Wire’ Mtawali, who has been roped in as the latter’s head coach in a bid to turn around the Lilongwe-based side’s fortunes.
It will be a clash of teams with contrasting runs as Wanderers top the league table with 13 points from six matches while Creck Sporting are at the bottom with two points from the same number of matches.
Creck are currently the only team yet to register a win in the flagship league.
It is reported that in today’s game, Mtawali will play an observer role with interim coach Chisomo Nkhoma taking charge.
