Giants strive for consistency

 TNM Super League giants Silver Strikers , Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and FCB Nyasa Bullets say striving for consistency in their remaining fixtures is the only key to winning the league title this season.

Leaders Silver have been the most consistent so far, having only dropped two points from six games after five wins and a draw. They top the 16-team log-table with 16 points. They host Wanderers tomorrow, who are third with 12 points from three wins and the same number of draws.

The three giants are the only teams yet to taste defeat so far this season

However, Silver coach Peter Mponda on Friday said they cannot get carried away by their impressive run so far to avoid going through a similar experience to last season when they lost the plot after an 11-game unbeaten run, having won seven matches and drawn four.

“Last season, the team had a good run until things turned haywire. We are being careful to avoid that scenario. This is why we do not want our current good form to get into our heads,” he said.

“Of course, we are happy with our performance as the players are giving their all but we need to be mentally strong. It is tough, yes, but we are determined to keep pushing hard.”

In spite of that, Mponda believes there is still a gap that needs to be filled in his squad to ensure a successful season considering that inevitable injuries to key players can be a stumbling block to their title aspirations.

Against Wanderers tomorrow, the Central Bankers, who last won the title in 2013, will be missing the services of at least six players namely, Stain Davie, Gift Chunga, Duncan Nyoni, Chisomo Mpachika, Atusaye Nyondo and Binwell Katinji due to injuries.

“What we are lacking now is depth and we need three or four new players to be on the safe side,” Mponda said.

As for Bullets, who are seeking a sixth consecutive league title, their biggest concern is their players’ mental toughness after dropping eight points after six rounds of matches.

The People’s Team, who are sixth on the table with 10 points, have so far registered only two wins and four draws.

Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa said during a press briefing ahead of this afternoon’s clash against Mzuzu City Hammers: “We need to be positive in our approach and whatever we do in our next fixtures. We need to treat every team with respect as there are no small teams in the top-flight league.”

He added that injuries could be the other thing that is affecting their performance as it is only Ernest Petro that has recovered out of over five players on the injury list.

Wanderers technical director Yasin ‘Titch’ Osman believes the Nomads are not really treading badly this campaign, having dropped six points after six games, but they still need to pull up their socks to end their current five-season league title drought.