Pamtsetse Bonanza duels promise fireworks

When the country’s four football heavyweights—Nyasa Big Bullets, Civil Sporting Club, Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers—clash, the battle is always intense and this afternoon’s Pamtsetse Bonanza fixtures will not be an exception.

TNM Super League champions Bullets and FDH Bank Cup kings Silver clash this afternoon at Bingu National Stadium, but first it will be Mighty Wanderers and Civil Sporting Club (Civo) in an early kick off tie.

The winner of this afternoon’s inter-city ties will clash tomorrow in the final of the mini-tournament aimed at raising funds for the survivors of Tropical Cyclone Ana.

Bullets and Silver will be taking their rivalry to another level after the Bankers lost 1-0 in their last encounter in the NBS Bank Charity Shield at Kamuzu Stadium last week.

In that match, Bullets paraded a team of fringle players and new signings while the Bankers did not hold punches as they featured a full strength squad.

Though Silver still went on to play second fiddle assistant coach McDonald Yobe says today’s battle is a different match in a different environment.

He said: “We had a bad trip to Blantyre last week. But this time the boys are ready. They all are looking forward to this one since we will be playing in Lilongwe our home. For this one we need to push so that we can reach the final.”

Bullets coach Callisto Pasuwa was elusive when asked if it will be another victory for Bullets.

He said: “We know they have been doing their correction where things went wrong. Good entertaining game. The way they keep possession it’s really cool. We hope the team which is positive will win the game.”

In the early kick-off, Wanderers have a point to prove that they are ready for the season having finished without a trophy last season.

Wanderers assistant coach Joseph Kamwendo sounded confident of carrying the day despite acknowledging that Civo are a unpredictable.

“It’s a very tricky fixture. Playing Civol is always tricky. It’s very tough. But we won’t disappoint. We are well prepared.”

But Civo coach Franco Ndawa avoided reading much into the Nomads sentiments, saying it will be an open match.

“We will just go into the match and play according to our game plan. Let eh best team win.”

The organisers of the bonanza Nzika Floods Response Team in partnership with TNM plc and NBS Bank plc are targeting to raise about K50 million from the two-day event.