Pasuwa foresees tough season
FCB Nyasa Bullets coach Kallisto Pasuwa has sent a word of caution to his charges, saying he expects one of the toughest seasons as other teams are determined to end their dominance.
The quadruple winning coach said this after winding up the team’s camp in Mponela, Dowa on Sunday with a 4-1 win over Chatoloma Admarc at Champion Stadium.
He said; “One problem we are having is that the other teams are on us and they are doing everything they can to be at par with us.
“They are ready for us, everyone is ready for us, you can see it in the way they are preparing.
“So, if we relax and say we won everything last season, then we might forget this championship thing.
“So, we need to move a step up for the other teams not to catch up with us.”
The Zimbabwean said last season, they were in a similar situation, but they handled it well.
On the progress made in the countdown to the new season, he said the team is taking shape.
“So far so good, we are getting there and by the time the season kicks off, I am hopeful that we will be good to go,” he said.
Commenting on new players and the two trialists from Zimbabwe, Pasuwa said: “They are fitting in well. Baba’s [Babatunde Adepoju] fitness levels are down as he wasn’t playing games [in South Africa], so we need to push him.
“As for the others, ‘Banega’ [Lloyd Aaron] and Mathews Masamba, they are gelling in well.”
On Pasuwa’s sentiments, football analyst Charles Nyirenda said: “I agree with him because if you recall, both Silver Strikers and [Mighty Mukuru]Wanderers drew their league matches against Bullets and only lost on penalties in cup matches.
“Now they have beefed up their technical teams and bought new players to strengthen their sides. For sure, the competition will be stiffer this season, particularly from Wanderers and Silver.”
Last season, Bullets swept domestic silverware.
At least 10 teams in the top-flight league, including Wanderers and Silver, have hired new coaches ahead of the 2024 season as they look forward to end Bullets’ dominance.
