Bullets not yet there—pasuwa

FCB Nyasa Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa says despite beefing up his squad with seven new players, the People’s Team is not ready for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League.

The Zimbabwean tactician was quoted by MBC Radio 2FM yesterday as having said that he believes his team lacks depth to compete with the continent’s elite clubs.

He said: “We need a team that can have balance [because] there are some childish mistakes that we have been making.

“We need to have a spine…a complete team.

“Yes, we have been doing well locally, but we have been faltering a lot in the CAF Champions League. So, I cannot say we are ready.”

However, the former Zimbabwe National Football Team and Dynamos FC gaffer could not be drawn to comment on whether his position means they won’t take part in the next edition of the continental elite clubs’ showpiece.

He said: “We are saying in each and every department we have to be strong to compete with teams such as Mamelodi Sundowns  and teams from North Africa.”

But Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said he could not comment on the issue.

In their last five attempts in the CAF tournament, Bullets have only gone past the last hurdle once when they booted our Dragon FC of Equatorial Guinea on a 3-0 aggregate last year.

But they were booted out by TP Mazembe of DR Congo 5-0 on aggregate.

And despite a clean sweep on the domestic scene last season, Bullets have had a slow start to the 2024 season, drawing their first two matches against Dedza Dynamos 1-1 and with Mighty Tigers 0-1.

The club’s former coach and legend Kinnah Phiri said: “He [Pasuwa] is the coach and I am sure he knows what he is talking about.

“But if the sponsors are ready to sponsor the team, then I would urge him that the team should still take part so that the young players can gain international exposure.”

On his part, football analyst Charles Nyirenda said Pasuwa is just being realistic.

He said: “If we look at how his side took off last year and compare to what we are seeing now, in technical terms that is, last season was better. This time around there are injuries to key players and there is no guarantee that the majority of them will be in tip-top shape very soon.

“As such, I am sure the coach knows that going to the continent with a doubtful squad is senseless.”

Nyirenda said if the CAF tournament was to start anytime soon, “from what we have seen of the team’s performance since the season kicked off, chances of advancement would be quite limited”.