CLASH OF GIANTS: BB, Nomads meet in BT derby
At this stage last year, soft-spoken Gerald Phiri was a Big Bullets deputy coach but such are football twists that he steps onto Kamuzu Stadium pitch today as bruised rivals Mighty Wanderers’ mentor.
The Blantyre derby, mother of this weekend’s derbies, has much at stake for Phiri. The Nomads are smarting from a depressing three-game losing streak and sit in an unfamiliar 15th slot with just a point from six games.
Phiri, whose Bullets’ tenure was full of accusations that he was a Wanderers’ plant, insists that his previous coaching flirtations are water under the bridge: “You will see a different performance. We have to play, excite the fans while also winning.”
The coach’s insiders’ knowledge of the Bullets could, depending on how he plays his tactical cards, work to the 13th placed Wanderers’ advantage. He started his reign with a 1-0 loss to Red Lions on Wednesday.
“He is likely to change the system we played against Red Lions which was more like that of the previous Bullets. We are working hard on polishing the frontline. Of course, there are other challenges,” noted some of the Wanderers players.
The third-placed Bullets’ striker Diverson Mlozi on Friday insisted that a 1-1 draw at Chikhwawa United last week taught them a lesson against complacency. The Bullets have 14 points, two points behind leaders Blue Eagles.
“We know him [Phiri] and he also knows us. Surely, he should be wary of us as we can be handy. He is a good coach, a motivator, but we have a job to do and we will do it,” explained Mlozi.
The Blantyre derby might be the cure the medicine man ordered for the wobbly, battered and bruised Wanderers while on the other end, a spring the Bullets need in their step.
If the sights and sounds around the Lali Lubani Road are unpleasant, then in Bullets it is all about happy people reaping fruits of massive recruitment of Pilirani Zonda, Mussa Manyenje, Victor Limbani and coach Elijah Kananji.
Manyenje and Mlozi pose a threat to the Nomads who have failed to score in the last three games while letting in four. This should stress goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa and new impressive recruit Enock Likoswe in defence.
Striker Victor Mpinganjira remains the Nomads’ main man in attack while Mike Kaziputa offers diversity and creativity on the flanks and in central midfield. This derby will be won and lost in midfield.
The Bullets who are unbeaten in six games have 14 points. This could be Kananji’s first derby this season, but he steps on the pitch with a slight advantage having beaten the Nomads 3-1 and drawn 1-1 with them in pre-season games.
“Our ultimate aim is to preserve our unbeaten record and we cannot pretend that it will be easy. On the evidence of last week’s 1-1 draw with Chikhwawa United last week, it is tougher facing teams that are smarting from defeats,” he said.
In another derby yesterday defending Silver Strikers drew 0-0 in a match against Lilongwe cross-town rivals Civo United.
