FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ newly appointed head coach Peter Mponda says he feels good to be back at The People’s Team.
He told journalists in Blantyre following his unveiling as the new Bullets boss on Monday, replacing Kalisto Pasuwa who left following the expiry of his contract last week after being with the club for six years.
Mponda has signed a three-year deal with the club, ending speculation about his future after he guided Silver Strikers to their first league title in eleven years.
“It feels good to be back home. Bullets is a big club. It’s a [big] brand, and to be given this opportunity to head the technical panel is a big honour. Bullets is a team that made me and I had to come back to be part of this noble club,” said our new head coach.
“When I left for Black Leopards, I found the team in the bottom zone, and I pushed, so I had to take it to fourth place then I left for Silver Strikers, where it wasn’t easy, but I managed to guide the team to their first league title in eleven years. We nearly went the whole season unbeaten, unfortunately, we lost to FOMO which was a very statement.
“As I said, if we can compare the two teams, there is just too much pressure at Bullets than at Silver, and the question is, can I handle the pressure? Yes, I can, and I am ready for the new challenge,” he explained. “Like I said, it’s everyone’s dream to coach Bullets, and it’s a big honour and privilege to be here. When the club came knocking, I wouldn’t hesitate to take the call.”
On replacing Pasuwa, a coach who won everything during his six-year stay with the club, Mponda admitted that the former gaffer has left big boots to fill, but he is ready to step up and continue where the Zimbabwean has left.
“Pasuwa has indeed left a big gap, boots that won’t be easy to fill because he won everything here, but as I said, I am ready for the challenge because if the boots are not easy to fill, I wouldn’t have accepted this challenge, but I came knowing that I am capable of continuing from where he left. I was very comfortable at Silver Strikers, coaching career is about challenges, and this is the challenge that I have fully accepted,” commented Mponda.
Asked if he will make new additions to the club before the start of next season, he said, “As a team Bullets has a core that’s why they finished in third position in the TNM Super League, reached two cup finals and won a trophy last season, which means it’s a good team. If we have to add a few players we will have to do that. Bullets is a big team which needs to be winning and if we’re to beef up the squad we will have to do that.”
Mponda also tacked the issue of his technical staff.
“Yes, every new coach wants to have their technical staff and I have already submitted the names of the people I want to work with to the CEO for review. I have already spoken to them and the people are ready, almost everyone has agreed to come and work with me. We have started the preparations for the new season that’s why I am here talking about Bullets.”
On his links to the Malawi job, he responded: “I can’t comment on the Flames job. As my CEO has said, I have been given a three-year contract [as a Bullets head coach]. We were called as interim national team coaches, we went and did the job and at the moment we haven’t been asked to go back, my focus now is on Bullets.”
