Shirtless, euphoric, ecstatic. The Blantyre famous derby, which features domestic football giants FC Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers has always provided vintage images and has been a perfect advertisement for local top-flight football.
And the most sought-after fixture is here once again and, with it, the sights and roaring sounds.
The two sides face off this afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre in a TNM Super League showdown that will definitely have a huge impact on the chase for the tile.
The last four league encounters have ended in stalemates and today’s contest, which will be the 76th, will be about ending a string of stalemates as they battle for the commercial city’s bragging rights.
In the last 21 league meetings, Bullets won seven times with the Nomads emerging triumphant only once while the rest, 13 matches to be precise, ended in draws.
With 44 points from 22 matches, the second-placed Lali Lubani Road side trails leaders Silver Strikers by six points and today’s fixture is a must-win if they are to keep their title hopes on the boil.
But a single win in 21 matches against their age-old rivals is not inspiring for the Nomads, who have struggled to find a formula to beat Bullets even in their worst form.
On the other hand, Bullets do not have realistic chances of defending the tile for the sixth time on the trot, but a win could see them hanging in there.
They lie fourth with 37 points, 13 behind the Bankers and seven adrift of Wanderers.
Until recently, it had been a rocky ride for Bullets this season, battered, bruised and barely recognisable as a side that ruled domestic football with ease.
In a pre-match press conference, Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa said the fact that most of the derbies have ended in draws is testimony of how tough and closely contested they are.
Said the Zimbabwean tactician: “That can easily mean derbies are very tough. It doesn’t necessarily mean we go for a draw. It is part of the game.
The former Zimbabwe National Football Team and Dynamos coach also said they were polishing up in some areas.
“We need to be positive in our approach and we also need to improve in some areas such as complacency and letting them dominate in terms of possession,” he said.
Bullets will be facing their arch-rivals for the firt time since the departure of their former star players, Patrick Mwaungulu and Lanjesi Nkhoma, who are now with Democratic Republic of Congo side SC Don Bosco.
But Pasuwa played down their absence, saying: “Yes, there are individual players that can rise to the ocassion in such big matches, but that’s the challenge to the boys who are around to say we need to carry on where the other guys left.”
His captain Gomezgani Chirwa said as players, they are determined to win the latest derby.
“The morale is high and we are ready. We want to improve our standings on the table. The derby is a big match and the hype alone is a big motivation,” he said.
Wanderers coach Meck Mwase, whose side are fresh from a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Karonga United, said they have put behind the loss and their focus has shifted to the battle at hand.
He said: “Our focus has been to improve on the weak areas we spotted, especially finishing. Apart from the hype that comes with the derby, it is also an important match as we are still in contention and we have to fight till the end and see where it gets us to.
“Our preparations have gone on well and we hope to do well.”
Lanky Nigerian forward Babatunde Adepoju, Chawanangwa Gumbo and Precious Phiri have shone for Bullets even in times when it has been gloomy for the champions and they should be on song this afternoon.
In the blue side of town, revived and remoulded misdfielder Isaac Kaliyati, who leads the league’s scorers’ chart with 14 goals and winger Gaddie Chirwa, who leads in assists with nine, are the men who carry the team’s hopes.
