FCB Nyasa Bullets coach Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda says he was caught off-guard after learning that they would be up against his former club Silver Strikers in their opening TNM Super League match on April 5.
Mponda led the Bankers to their first league title in 11 years last season before quitting to return to his roots at the People’s Team.
It also ended Bullets’ five-year league title triumphs on the trot.
In an interview on Thursday, the Flames assistant coach admitted that the fixture took him by surprise.
He said: “I will be lying if I say I took it as one of those things. This is the team I coached last season, then boom! We have to meet them in the opening game.
“It will be emotional for me, that’s for sure. But I guess that’s football for you. This game has come a bit too early.”
He also tipped the odds in the Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored side’s favour.
Said Mponda: “Silver strikers have a good team. Everyone knows I built a good team and all the players are still there. They have even added three more quality players.
“It is a team that has played together for a year and produced results, they have big advantage.”
“In contrast, I have lost almost 11 players, including the entire defence. It’s a tough situation to be in.
He brushed off suggestions that he was trying to play some mind games, saying:“Not at all, it’s just the reslity.”
“There is so much demand and pressure at Bullets and I am very excited to be a Bullets coach at this moment in time, it will b a very good test.”
His Silver counterpart, Peter Mgangira, who was his assistant last season, said: “It’s a good feeling to face my former teammate at national team, my former head coach and, of course, my friend.
“I have learnt a lot from him as a person and a coach, we have come a long way.
“That said, we respect Bullets, but we do not fear them. Not at all.”
Super League of Malawi was expected to release the rest of the fixtures last evening.
The top-flight league is expected to conclude in December.
