TNM Super League giants FCB Nyasa Bullets, Silver Strikers, Civil Service Club and Mighty Wanderers are this afternoon engaged in crucial matches as the battle for points rages on.
Leaders Bullets host newcomers Ekhaya FC in a match that has several talking points.
Bullets coach Peter Mponda faces familiar faces that were part of the Bullets family just four months ago.
Ekhaya coach Enos Chatama joined the club from Bullets Reserves while players Alick Lungu, Stanley Billiat, Kesten Simbi, Emmanuel Saviel and Ellias Missi are all The People’s Team products.
Mponda in a pre-match interview said the match will be unpredictable.
He said: “It will be a very difficult game. We know Ekhaya are doing well. They are playing with confidence.
“They are doing very well. They have a very good coach. He has got young players full of energy. Defensively, they’re very good. They’re not conceding much. Yes, upfront, they are scoring better. They are not that dangerous, but they are playing good football.
“They are playing very well. They try to score a goal and defend, which is a very good thing for a team which just came from a lower league. They cannot play an open game, but they know what they’re doing.”
But while showering his opponents with praise, Mponda said he does not believe the Cowboys are title contenders.
“No, it’s too early to start talking of title contenders. Like I said earlier, let’s play 15 games then see where we are, who is on top, who is second, or who is dead.
“We cannot say that they are title contenders. But they’re enjoying football. They’re playing with no pressure. I believe they finished a very good position.”
Bullets lead the table with 24 points from nine games while Ekhaya are third with 20 points from 10 matches.
Chatama, on his part, said there was nothing special about the fixture.
He said: “The boys are ready. We knew about the fixture a week ago that we will play Bullets on Wednesday. It’s a game whereby the boys are ready and they will take on to the turf to take on Bullets. Nothing special about this fixture.”
On Mponda’s jab that they are not title contenders, Chatama chose to be humble, saying they are not yet there.
“We are not in a position to challenge these big teams as of now. We believe after 2027, we will have a strong team to challenge Bullets, Wanderers and Silver. But now we are in the underdogs category.”
As Bullets tussle with Ekhaya, their rivals Wanderers will be at Karonga Stadium against another newcomer, Songwe Border.
After failing to dislodge Bullets at the summit following a draw against Karonga United at the same venue on Sunday, coach Bob Mpinganjira said they cannot afford another slip up.
He said: “We know it’s another tricky one. But we need to bounce back and collect maximum points.”
Defending champions Silver also have a crucial fixture as they play away to Creck Sporting at Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji.
Creck are coming from their first victory under coach Elia Kananji who endured two losses before collecting full point against Moyale Barracks last weekend.
Silver coach Peter Mgangira said victory will be a big motivation for Creck, but stressed that as defending champions they need to rise to the occasion.
“We have no excuse. We need to do well. So, tomorrow is another opportunity for us to have three points. We’re playing our way, but there will be no excuses. So we’ll give it all. We’ll give it all.” he said.
On his part, Kananji said the victory over Moyale gave them confidence.
He said: “I am confident because I saw my boys were working hard. That’s why I am really looking forward to those three points.
“The performance against Moyale was not really good enough, but at least we won the game.”
Meanwhile, Civil and Kamuzu Barracks clash at Civo Stadium in another Lilongwe derby that promises thrills.
