FCB Bullets intricky fixture
Defending champions FCB Nyasa Bullets face Mafco FC this afternoon at Chitowe Stadium in a must-win clash to reclaim the top spot in the TNM Super League log-table.
The People’s Team slipped to third after their mid-week fixture against Mighty Tigers ended one-all. A win will see them leap-frog leaders Silver Strikers and second-placed Chitipa United by a point.
On the other hand, a loss might prove disastrous for Bullets. Their rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, who are also kick-starting the league’s second round this afternoon against strugglers Red Lions at Kamuzu Stadium, would displace them with a win.
Currently, Bullets are third on the 16-team log-table with 30 points from 15 games, two points ahead of fourth-placed Wanderers. Silver lead the pack on a better goal-aggregate following a tie on 32 points with Chitipa United after 16 games apiece.
Mafco are also determined to win to move into the top-10 as they are 12th with 17 points from 15 matches. Red Lions are second from the bottom on 14 points.
Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa yesterday said in a pre-match interview that they are aware that they have to be cautious of today’s encounter.
He has since challenged his charges to overcome fatigue of playing four games in 10 days.
Said Pasuwa: “Mafco is a physical team. They give us torrid time when it comes to second balls. It is a team that gives us good football.
“Mafco will give everything in the game and we need to be careful and focused. Of course, we are heavily affected by crammed fixtures that are too much for the boys to cope physically and mentally but this is football; we have to manage.”
He added that while today’s game is a preparatory match ahead of their Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League preliminary round fixture against Equatorial Guinea’s FC Dragons, they are being cautious of sustaining injuries.
Bullets will miss the services of midfielder Mike Mkwate, defender Alick Lungu and winger Stanley Brilliant due to injuries. Midfielder Ernest Petro is back after recovering from injury.
“We need to be careful with the injuries affecting us. It is important to work on how to manage players to avoid exhaustion and injuries. But again facing a physical side like Mafco is an advantage to us because in the champions league, we will also face a very physical side,” said Pasuwa.
On his part, Mafco coach Prichard Mwansa said they also understand the importance of the fixture, which they need to win to avoid sinking deep into the relegation zone.
“We have been preparing well for the game. We know how important a win is for us. We have a good squad that is capable of getting us from our current position on the log-table,” he said.
Mafco will play without Zikani Sichinga and Walusungu Mpata, who are on national duty as Malawi Defence Force (MDF) officers.
In the other elite league affair this afternoon, Wanderers coach Mark Harrison yesterday said they look forward to nothing less than a win against Lions to keep fingers crossed for a possibility of displacing Bullets from the third place.
