Reds, BB in battle for top slot

Red Lions and Big Bullets have one thing in common—the red and white colours—but it will be a tight-throat affair when the two teams meet in a TNM Super League encounter tomorrow afternoon, as they battle for the top slot. The setting is Kamuzu Stadium.

The Zomba-based soldiers are at the top of the table with 37 points from 21 games—two ahead of Bullets who have also played the same number of games.

This season’s race is so tight that any slip by either team at this stage could prove fatal.

Bullets will be out to settle the scores having lost the first-round encounter 2-1 and their assistant coach Gerald Phiri Snr said the importance of tomorrow’s tie cannot be overemphasised.

“It is a game that we must win if we are to boost our chances of winning the title. We will have to keep on turning the screw,” said Phiri.

Last week, Bullets turned on the magic with a vintage display that saw them beat rookies Evirom 2-0 through Diverson Mlozi’s double and they will be hoping to start from where they stopped.

Gifted diminutive forward Godfrey Masondo could make a comeback after a stint in the lower Mozambican league if he is declared fit.

The other potential match winners for Bullets are midfield workhorse Chimango ‘Blackberry’ Kayira, battle-hardened James ‘Terminator’ Chilapondwa, Dalitso Sailesi, Ian Chinyama, Douglas ‘Chibadula’ Chirambo and George Nyirenda.

Lions team manager Alexander Saka said they are looking forward to maintaining their top position. Kumbukani Mwambene, Boniface Kaulesi, Lot Chawinga and Innocent Bokosi carry the hopes for the soldiers.

In other potentially tough fixtures, Blue Eagles host Moyale at Nankhaka this afternoon while tomorrow [Saturday] defending champions Silver Strikers will take on Kamuzu Barracks at Silver Stadium and Mighty Wanderers face Mzuzu United in Balaka.

Meanwhile, Sulom has banned half-time warm-up sessions on the pitch in the wake of scuffles that occurred during recent Super League games involving Mighty Wanderers and Red Lions, and the Nomads against Mponela in Zomba and Balaka respectively.

According to Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda, teams that will defy the order will be punished accordingly.

Sulom has also warned that fans who invade the pitch after the match will be arrested and charged by police.