Nomads, BB in Super League title chase

Hype has gripped the Capital in the countdown to yet another episode of the battle of giants featuring age-old rivals Mighty Wanderers and Big Bullets. The setting is Civo Stadium.

It is on again this afternoon—the very personification of football diligence—for there is nothing more passionate on the domestic scene than a date between the two teams.

No wonder the capital is, as expected, ablaze with expectation having been afforded the opportunity to watch the big one following the 10-match ban from playing at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre imposed on the Nomads.

Apart from the usual pride, there is more at stake in today’s showdown as both teams are firmly in contention for the flagship league title which seems to go right to the wire.

Both teams believe the outcome of the encounter, is likely to determine their date with destiny in the chase for honours and are aware that one slip could prove fatal.

The Nomads, who are second on the log table with 40 points from 23 games, are a point short of leaders Red Lions who have, however, played a game more. The Bullets are sixth with 36 points.

“If we are serious about remaining in contention for the championship then this is a match we cannot afford to lose. In fact we need to treat all our remaining five games as cup finals.

“It is in our hands and all that we need to do is give out something extra and display sheer stubbornness and gritty unwillingness to let the dream die. Otherwise we may be a case of being so close and yet so far away,” said Nomads captain Alfred Manyozo Jnr.

He also said his troops are in the mood, “although any game against Bullets always brings tension.”

Bullets midfield workhorse James ‘Terminator’ Chilapondwa predicted a tough battle, but said they are raring to go.

“There is pride at stake. If we are to keep our hopes of winning the title, then this is the game we must win at all cost. On paper, the odds are stacked in Wanderers favour going by their recent performance and results, but we are also determined,” said Chilapondwa.

Revived diminutive forward Diverson Mlozi carries Bullets’ hopes, having scored in all the three recent games. He is the defining symbol of the ultimate forward when on song.

In midfield, Bullets have youthful Dalitso Sailesi who roams the left wing like a demon aided by the combative promptings of Douglas ‘Chibadula’ Chirambo then they have captain Fischer ‘Anong’a’ Kondowe whose workrate proves instrumental. Then there is the ‘BlackBerry’—Chimango Kayira who is the productive hub of the Bullets’ machine as Chilapondwa provides cover.

Nomads man-of-the-moment is Mike ‘Malouda’ Kaziputa, a wizard of trickery who has silky skills and Manyozo Jnr, a perfect midfield maestro and committed leader. The other key men are namesakes Kondwani Lufeyo and Kondwani ‘Scholes’ Kumwenda. Burly forward Innocent ‘Rooney’ Dzimbiri will lead the attack.

The two teams settled for a 1-1 draw in the first-round encounter with Gabadinho Mhango netting for Bullets while Dzimbiri scored for Nomads.

Last season, the Nomads won the first round 2-1 while Bullets won 3-0 in the second-round.

There has been too much talk, especially from those of the old school that the contest today is a poor imitation of the golden old times.

A galaxy of names are always thrown into fray with arguments centred on how much the current crop could never measure up to the old school—the likes of Kinnah ‘Electric’ Phiri, Denis Saidi, the late Harry and Lawrence ‘Lule’ Waya, Gilbert Chirwa, the late Michael Kaimfa, Chance ‘Vinny’ Gondwe, Mabvuto Lungu, Andrew ‘Aluki’ Chikhosi, the late Chikondi ‘Doctor’ Banda and John ‘CJ’ Banda in Bullets camp.

In the opposite camp, there were the likes of Boniface Maganga, Jack ‘Africa’ Chamangwana, Kannock ‘Bruno’ Munde, Barnett Gondwe, the late Frank Mtawali, the late Holman and Kennedy Malunga, Bob and Albert Mpinganjira, the late Donnex Gondwe and the late Robert ‘Khaki’ Phiri.

Kinnah and Chamangwana admitted that the old-derby flame seems to have eased down.

“Such a derby used to create so much hype and it used to be rich in football quality for the highest order,” recalled Chamangwana.

Kinnah said: “There is always something special about this match whenever it comes up and it will not be different this afternoon.”

And thousands of high-spirited fans will troop to Civo Stadium to see today’s showdown take them down memory lane when this derby represented everything good about Malawi football.