Bullets hope to seal league title today

It’s probably written in the stars that Nyasa Big Bullets will seal their fourth successive TNM Super League title and 16th overall when they host Moyale Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre this afternoon.

Such is the luxury for the People’s Team who need just a point in their remaining three matches to get it over and done with.

Bullets sit pretty at the pinnacle of the 16-team flagship league with 64 points from 27 matches while second-placed Blue Eagles trail them by five points and have also played a game more.

But while the red side of the town is ready to explode, such is the beauty of football that it doesnt’ always go according to script irrespective of opponents, form or lack of it and, irrespective of the odds.

The reality though is that Bullets are just a hop, skip and a jump away and it could take divine intervention to stop them in their tracks.

In a pre-match interview yesterday, Moyale coach Pritchard Mwansa said they are capable of delaying Bullets’ celebrations.

He said: “A tough match considering we are playing away, but we want to finish on a high.

“We believe we have prepared well for them and we’ll fight to the last whisle.”

The Mzuzu-based Malawi Defence Force side will be buoyed by their 1-0 victory over Bullets’ fierce rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at the same venue in a mid-week fixture which took them to seventh position with 46 points.

On the other hand, Bullets assistant coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda said they will be out to accomplish the mission.

He said: “It won’t be an easy game. Moyale are a rejuvenated side and we have to be cautious in our approach.”

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said the current situation in the league paints a picture that Bullets have no competition on the domestic scene.

“Bullets are getting better organised by the day and it is time their competitors wake up and do something before the whole business of battles for league supremacy turn into a farce with a single team domination monotony,” he said.

The last time the two teams met was in the FDH Bank Cup round of 16 tie at the same venue and Bullets survived the soldiers’ scare to win 4-2 on post-match penalties after playing out a three-all draw in regulation time.

But Mponda played down that fright, saying: “It was a cup game and cup games are always tricky. It’s different from league matches.”

Bullets won the first round fixture 0-2.

Lanky Nigerian forward Babatunde Adepoju, who is the league’s leading scorer with 17 goals, will seek to increase his tally aided by boy wonder Patrick Mwaungulu, Lanjesi Nkhoma and Anthony Mfune, who have been oiling the wheels of industry in Bullets attack that has seen them score 60 goals.

For Moyale, the conductors of orchestra have been Raphael Phiri and Lloyd Njaliwa.

In another fixture, relegated TN Stars host fellow strugglers Karonga United at Kasungu Stadium.