Nomads want derby shifted

Mighty Mukuru Wanderers coach Mark Harrison wants the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) to reschedule their TNM Super League Blantyre derby against age-old rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets, scheduled for this Sunday,  until they are level on games played.

But Bullets say the Nomads gaffer is just afraid of facing the reigning champions.

The two local football powerhouses are tied on 53 points at the summit of the flagship league, but the People’s Team have a better goal difference and three games in hand.

Wanderers have three matches to complete the season while the champions have six games.

In an interview yesterday, the Briton said: “Sulom [Super League of Malawi] have allowed Bullets to have three games in hand which is unacceptable. It needs to be addressed immediately.

“There is no way we should be playing Bullets now when they have these three games in hand.

“These games should be caught up then we can play the last three games. Otherwise, as it is, it’s not fair, it’s not an equal playing field as we stand right now.”

Nomads’ acting chief executive officer Roosevelt Mpinganjira backed their coach, saying he has a point.

“The league has reached a crucial point and it is not fair to have a disparity of three matches for title contenders because it gives undue advantage to one team,” he said.

But Sulom general secretary Williams Banda yesterday said: “Playing against Wanderers is reducing the backlog of games in hand. They will be on equal footing soon.”

In a separate interview, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “He is simply afraid to face Bullet. When did he know about the fixture in question? Why didn’t he raise the issue earlier?

“As far as we are concerned, the fixture is on and we are ready for them.”

The two teams played out a goalless draw in the first round.