Bullets seek to settle scores against Silver
Bullets FC are having their best season since 2005 when they won the Super League title.
They won the Presidential Cup at the start of the current season, their first cup since 2002 and are in contention for the league title.
But the People’s Team are still haunted by the humiliation they suffered at the hands of Silver Strikers on the opening day of the season.
They lost 4-0 which is the biggest league defeat for Bullets in Super League history.
This afternoon, they will aim to avenge the defeat they suffered in Lilongwe at the Bankers’ backyard. The venue is the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Of course, Bullets beat Silver 3-1 in the Presidential Cup quarter-finals, but they will still need to get a league revenge.
While losing again to Silver will mean more humiliation and loss of pride to the Bullets faithful, dropping the three points would also derail the team’s quest for a first Super League championship under TNM sponsorship.
Bullets are third with 42 points, a point behind the Bankers who, as of on Saturday, trailed leaders Blantyre United by two points.
Bullets assistant coach Gerald Phiri Senior says they are not in the mood to play second fiddle again.
“It is an important match to our league championship campaign. If we win this one, depending on Blantyre United’s games in Lilongwe, we may go top of the table .
“Yes, the aspect of revenge is there, but if we dwell much on revenge, we may be carried away and fair badly. It is just a normal league game where collecting maximum points is a must,” he said.
His Silver counterpart Hellings Mwakasungula also declared war on the People’s Team.
“We are in the South to collect all the six points. It will be a tough game as Bullets are difficult to beat at home. But we are going to give it all because the result will have a huge impact on the destination of the league title,” he said.
Both teams come into the match oozing confidence after winning their respective city derbys.
Bullets demolished arch-rivals Mighty Wanderers 3-0 whereas Silver overcame capital city rivals Civo United by the same margin two weeks ago.
The former’s morale has been boosted by the team’s management pledge to increase their game bonus by 50 percent. This could make Bullets players work much harder to get a result.
Red-hot striker Gabadinho Mhango, who was the architect of Nomads destruction as well as Bullets’ 3-1 win over Silver, scoring braces in both matches, is once again the player to watch for Bullets.
Having already won the Presidential Cup and Standard Bank Trophy golden boot awards, Gabadinho has launched a late golden boot award campaign. He has vowed to score in all the remaining six games to catch up with leading scorer Bvumbwe Research’s Vincent Chinthenga who has 13 goals.
On the other hand, Rodrick Gonani, who scored a brace in the first league encounter between the two teams, is expected to lead the attack for the Bankers.
The other potential matchmakers are Chimango ‘Blackberry’ Kayira, Daliso Sailesi, veteran winger Fischer Kondowe, Diverson Mlozi and James Chilapondwa for Bullets while Silver have Tony Chitsulo, Young Chimodzi Junior, Frank Banda, Peter Pindani and Green Harawa.
In Lilongwe, Blantyre United will aim to consolidate their lead as they face Kamuzu Barracks at Civo Stadium.
In Zomba, Kabwafu continue to fight relegation when they face Red Lions at Zomba Community Centre ground.
