Mind games
Blantyre-based giants Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers have promised hefty bonuses for their players if they triumph in tomorrow’s FDH Bank Cup semi-final at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Nyasa Big Bullets have promised to pay each player K250 000 if they beat their rivals in the match.
The amount is three times the normal game bonus each Bullets player pockets for a win.
The club’s chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda justified the bonuses, saying the players deserve it.
He said: “It’s a big match and the stakes are high. The players deserve to be rewarded if they win this match and qualify for the final.”
On his part, Wanderers spokesperson Clement Stambuli said Bullets are panicking.
He said: “They know it will be an uphill task to beat us. If it wasn’t, they wouldn’t have been offering that money to the players.”
Stambuli, however, said they will offer their players a special bonus if they beat Bullets.
He said: “Our president [Thom Mpinganjira] always spoils the players with special bonuses for such big games. For sure, we will pay them a special bonus if they win this one.”
Stambuli, however, said they will not disclose the amount the players stand to get if they beat their rivals.
He said: “We would rather make it a surprise after the game. We don’t want to spoil everything.”
Wanderers vice-captain Alfred Manyozo also downplayed the special bonus the rivals are promising to splash on their players.
He said: “We don’t care what Bullets are offering their players. For us, the bonuses don’t matter. Even if it means playing without any bonuses, our target is to beat Bullets and reach the final.”
The FDH Bank Cup semi-final will be a continuation of the rivalry between the two sides which last met in TNM Super League second round which ended 3-3 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
In that six-goal thriller, Wanderers came from behind twice and scored two quick goals to cancel Bullets’ lead.
While Wanderers are riding on their recent form, which has seen them unbeaten in the last four matches, including last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Silver Strikers in TNM Super League, Bullets have just been booted out of the CAF Champions League after losing 2-0 at home and the same margin in the return leg in Tanzania against Simba SC.
But Wanderers interim coach Alex Ngwira said they are not going into the game with an advantage.
He said: “This is going to be a tough one. But we are ready. Our preparations were perfect.”
His counterpart, Kallisto Pasuwa, also said despite coming from the CAF Champions League poor performance, they are up to the task.
He said: “Wanderers are one of the most experienced teams, a team not to underrate. It’s a cup game and you don’t play for three results. It’s one result. We will go out and throw everything into it.”
Bullets striker Babatunde Adepoju said they are highly motivated to bounce back.
Interestingly, the winner in this encounter will face Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves.
To make it to the final, Reserves knocked out TNM Super League sides Mighty Tigers in round of 32, Red Lions in round of 16 and Blue Eagles in the quarter-finals as well as Chipiku Central Region Football League side Extreme FC in the semi-final.
