Derby fever
Domestic football powerhouses Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and FCB Nyasa Bullets have stepped up the hype for tomorrow’s Blantyre derby by offering their players special packages if they win.
The Nomads host the People’s Team in the latest episode of the most sought-after fixture on the local scene at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre in a TNM Super League encounter.
Wanderers co-sponsor Ekhaya Farms Foods Limited have dangled an additional K100 000 to each player for a win while Bullets have reportedly hiked the game bonus, specifically for this clash, to K100 000 each player from the normal K65 000 each.
In an interview yesterday, Ekhaya board chairperson Thomson Mpinganjira, who is also Wanderers president, said the gesture is aimed at motivating the players.
The business mogul and philanthropist, who doubles as the Lali Lubani Road outfit’s board chairperson, said in an interview yesterday that K100 000 will also be given to every goal scorer.
However, Mpinganjira also had a word of caution to the supporters: “If they misbehave, intimidate and ill-treat players like they did in the recent two games [against Dedza Dynamos and Extreme FC], I will withdraw my sponsorship, as my name and the Ekhaya brands do not want to be associated with hooligans and violence.”
The club’s spokesperson Clement Stambuli said despite losing to newly-promoted teams Chitipa United and Extreme FC by 1-0 margins and drawing against Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar one-all they expect to win.
He said: “Even at our weakest, we rise to the occasion against Neba.”
On his part, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “We respect our neighbour, but we are not their match. Blantyre will be painted all red.”
On the bonus hike for the derby, Chigoga said: “We would like to keep this internal.”
In the last six league matches, four have ended in draws while each team won once.
Meanwhile, the pre-sale of entry tickets for the match started yesterday. Open Stands tickets are fetching K3 000 each, K5 000 for MBC Stand, K8 000 for Covered Stands while a seat in the VIP Stand is going at K15 000.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has since assured of tight security.as they have defied FAM’s move for Kamuzu Stadium to host the match due to safety concerns.
The stakeholders have agreed a maximum capacity of 14 000.
A statement from the flagship league-runners signed by general secretary Williams Banda says spectators will not be allowed beyond the barricade and that alcohol will not be allowed inside the stadium.
Fans speak out
Thomas Mailosi (Bullets) said: “As our home ground, we cannot allow to lose to Bullets.”
Boniface Chingaipe (Wandererers) said: “Although we have not being doing well recently, this match is important for us to make amends.”
Numeri Lackson (Bullets) said: “ We cannot afford to lose this match. We are ready to beat them.
Billy Mbewe (Wanderers) said: “Wanderers will win to make a statement that we were just going through a bad patch.”
