Poor start for hosts

 Rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers face off at Kamuzu Stadium this afternoon following their respective poor starts in Pre-Season International Tournament against Mozambican clubs Ferroviário de Nampula and UD Songo yesterday.

Hosts Bullets settled for a goalless draw against Ferroviário before Wanderers went down 2-0 against Songo.

Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa and his Wanderers counterpart Mark Harrison yesterday said they have learned their lessons and they hope for improved performance in the potentially explosive Blantyre derby.

The tournament is played in a round-robin, in which a team with the most points after the last fixtures tomorrow will be declared champions. Before the Blantyre derby this afternoon, Ferroviário and Songo will clash in an early kick-off.

Said Pasuwa: “We had a good game, where we were looking at the players’ fitness and not necessarily results. I believe we did well as three-quarters of our boys went over 80 minutes. However, we are looking at improving our transition and circulation of the ball as we get into the next game.

“Of course, through this tournament, we need to get our boys ready for the next season, but a win against Wanderers is important for both our pride and a good standing. We will not take our next fixture lightly.”

On his part, Harrison said although they have lost their first match, they believe they have the potential of beating Bullets and even winning the competition.

“Today, we lost shape and discipline, especially in the last 30 minutes. There were no runs from the midfield to penetrate the opponent’s defence. We will try to make amends in our next game and we are confident we will beat Bullets,” he said.

In the first match yesterday, Bullets and Ferroviário engaged in an entertaining battle except that it was characterised by long stretches of blunt build-up play.

Bullets had their first chance in the 13th minute when unmarked Yankho Singo headed over the bar after being well-fed by Stanley Billiat’s cross into the box.

However, it was Ferroviário that enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the first half with some rapid box-to-box attacks only that it proved hard for them to unlock the John Lanjesi-led Bullets defence.

Despite that, errors gradually crept into the game for Bullets, who could have gifted the visitors a goal on the half-hour mark when Ferroviário striker Mario was left unmarked and his effort to beat advancing goalkeeper Rabson Chiyenda hit the post.

Bullets then took control of possession after coach Pasuwa shook things up with five substitutions in the second half. He started with a triple change in the 62nd minute when he introduced Henry Kabichi, Lanjesi Nkhoma and Clyde Senaji for Righteous Banda, Yankho Singo and Thomson Magombo.

He also took off Maxwell Gasten Phodo for Nigerian recruit Chinedu Okafor in the 78th minute before Lanjesi gave way for Kenyan Collins Okhumu in the 82nd minute.

This seemed effective as it resulted in Bullets creating their best chance of the segment barely a minute later. Ferroviário defence was caught napping as Nkhoma smuggled in a wonderful pass into the path of Okafour, who failed to finish off the job.

The second match appeared a balanced affair until UD Songo dominated the second half and it was not surprising that they scored in the 63rd minute through Bheu Januario’s direct free-kick.

The Mozambican club piled more misery on the Nomads with their second goal coming in the 86th minute through Allan Namaito, who curled it into the far corner leaving Wanderers’ goal-minder Richard Chipuwa helpless.

But this does not mean Wanderers did not create good chances. In the ninth minute, Vincent Nyangulu could have drawn the first blood had his flicking header not narrowly missed the target after Vitumbiko Kumwenda’s well-curved free-kick.

Seconds before half-time break, Msowoya also headed wide a curling cross from his captain Stanley Sanudi.

The Lali-Lubani outfit started the game with an experienced line-up and made four changes in the 49th minute when Wisdom Mpinganjira, Miracle Gabeya, Christopher Kumwembe and Emmanuel Nyirenda replaced Chiukepo Msowoya, Chaziya, Sanudi and Kaliati.