Bullets register 30 for CAF
FCB Nyasa Bullets, Malawi’s sole representative in the 2024-25 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, have registered 30 players for the competition as they gear up for their sixth successive participation.
The squad, expected to face Zambia’s MTN Super League champions Red Arrows in the preliminary round on the weekend of August 16 to 18, excludes midfielder Patrick Mwaungulu and forward Lanjesi Nkhoma who on Thursday successfully completed a medical at Democratic Republic of Congo giants TP Mazembe.
Bullets acting chief executive officer Albert Chigoga in an interview on Thursdya confirmed that Nkhoma and Mwaungulu were successful.
He said: “According to the updates we are getting from the club, the two players were successful. They are just waiting for the club’s president Moses Katumbi to return from a foreign trip to complete the deal. So, they are out of the picture.”
Apart from newly-signed players Colin Mujuru, Ronald Chitiyo, Innocent Nyasulu, Sean McBrams, Babatunde Adepoju and Lloyd Aaron; promoted youngsters Chrispin Mapemba, Yamikani Mologeni and Chikumbutso Salima, Bullets have maintained the bulk of the players that featured in the last edition.
These include Clever Nkungula, Frank Willard, Clyde Senaji, Ephraim Kondowe, Richard Chimbamba, Gomezgani Chirwa, Precious Sambani, Blessing Mpokela, Precious Phiri, Ernest Petro, Maxwell Gasten Phodo, Hassan Kajoke, Kenneth Pasuwa, Chawanangwa Gumbo and Nickson Nyasulu.
However, Bullets have left out Mike Mkwate and Alick Lungu who are nursing injuries.
“We have registered all our players except the two who are still injured and will be considered for registration as we progress in the campaign,” said Chigoga.
Bullets may register more players if they qualify for the second round, according to the competition’s regulations.
However, Bullets’ 2024-25 CAF Champions League campaign will be without Yamikani Fodya, Eric Kaonga, MacFarlane Mgwira, Rabson Chiyenda and Righteous Banda who left the club at the beginning of the season.
If successful against Red Arrows, Bullets face six-time CAF Champions League champions TP Mazembe, who knocked them out in the second round last season.
Football analyst Charles Nyirenda in an interview said Bullets have a tall order in the competition.
He said: “Last season they had it easy in the first round as they faced a side from Equatorial Guinea [Dragons FC). But this time they are up against Zambian giants. It’s not going to be easy. They need to be very careful considering that they haven’t been impressive in the local league.”
Meanwhile, Bullets are also expected today to report to CAF on the stadium they will use for their home matches since Bingu National Stadium is not on the CAF approved list.
“On that, we are waiting for FAM to give us direction. They have assured us that they will have the stadium approved. But of course we are exploring plan B in case that does not happen,” said Chigoga.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said they will send a pre-inspection report to CAF today.
He said: “The deadline is today. We are finalising the report to be sent to CAF for consideration. We are confident that they will reverse the decision.”
Bullets have participated in the last five editions of the the competition.
