FCB Nyasa Big Bullets return to Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza on Sunday afternoon for our FDH Bank Premiership Matchweek 4 fixture against Red Lions.
Ahead of the encounter, head coach Gilbert Chirwa addressed the media on Friday, discussing preparations for the match, the team’s start to the campaign, squad availability and lessons from last weekend’s Blantyre derby victory over Mighty Wanderers.
The Bullets mentor also spoke about Maxwell Phodo’s suspension, the current injury list and the challenge expected from the Zomba-based side.
Below is Chirwa’s full press conference:
Coach, the team heads into this fixture coming from an important derby victory over Mighty Wanderers. What impact has that result had on the squad this week?
We are well aware that every game in the Super League is a unique experience. Red Lions have just been promoted from the National First Division to the Super League and they are doing well. We are expecting a difficult game, but we are ready for it because the response from the boys in training has been very positive, and we are ready for the match.
The team returns to Joyce Chitsulo Stadium this week after playing the first home match in Mwanza earlier this month. What did you take from that experience heading into Sunday’s fixture?
Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza is a very good stadium with a very good playing surface despite being a very hot environment, but it is a very good facility for us. We are not taking the opponents for granted because they are a good team. We have told the boys to be serious so that we get something out of the game.
What have you been pleased with from the team in the opening three matches of the league season?
I think as a team, there is progress that we are making, and each and every time we play, we learn from it. We have been creating lots and lots of chances, and we are in a better position to improve further. We are facing a good team and we are anticipating a difficult game.
Red Lions come into this match after a strong 3-0 win over Goshen City Dedza Dynamos. What kind of challenge are you expecting from them on Sunday?
As a team, we are ready for them. The response from our players has been very good and we know they will put up a gallant fight.
You are facing a very different Red Lions which has more civilian players, young and energetic, compared to the last squad that your team faced which had more overaged military players, what will be your game plan?
I am not here to talk about the game plan for Red Lions. The response from my players in training has been very good, and we are ready. We are expecting a very difficult game and we know there is no easy game in the Super League. We need to create more chances for us to score goals.
We saw your players struggling to deal with secondary balls. We saw the same problem against Civil in the first game, and we also saw your team conceding a penalty against Wanderers, and from the look of things, the defence needs some polishing, how do you intend to do it?
When we play every game, as coaches, we draw some positives and highlight some negatives. When we go to our training ground, we look into the mistakes and if you look at the way we started, we have improved a lot. I believe we will keep improving and this Sunday we will play better than the previous game.
During the game against Wanderers, your player and an official were sent off, what measures have you put in place to avoid a repeat of such an unfortunate situation?
It was a high-tempo game and we always take positives and negatives from it. We always teach our boys to behave well, and for sure, Phodo will miss two games and he will be advised on how to behave.
What aspects of Red Lions’ game do you feel could make them more dangerous on Sunday after facing them during the pre-season preparations last month?
I won’t talk much about that game because only one player who played in that game is still playing for that team. The main squad was in Mozambique for a friendly match. We are aware that it will be a totally different team altogether. We are also aware that they use four defenders, overload the midfield and play with two strikers. So we are ready.
Before the game, people doubted your capabilities to lead the team. Now that you won, are you the right man for the job?
Maybe you are asking the wrong person. Maybe you should go and talk to the people because they were the ones talking a lot. My role is to train the team, make them ready and go to matches. People talk a lot, it’s in them to talk a lot, but our job is to prepare the team to work hard and get results.
But winning against Wanderers was a relief for you?
All I can say is that it is very true that people talk a lot. As a coach, we always have pressure. When you win, the pressure is temporarily taken away from you. If you lose, the pressure is even worse. It doesn’t mean that when you win one game, the pressure is gone because once you lose, the pressure comes back. You need to win, finish the season and see where it goes.
We have seen the absence of Peter Banda, who only featured once against MAFCO FC, but of late he hasn’t been playing. We also have seen the absence of Madalitso Safuli, a young man who did well with Mzuzu City Hammers during his loan spell. What’s the update on these two players?
Peter played against MAFCO. Safuli, as you have rightly put it, cannot play in every game. Surely his time will come. We have many games to play and he will be given a chance.
Any injury updates ahead of the match?
The following players are on the injury list: Ahamad Kung’unde, McLean Mwale, Chrispin Mapemba and Frank Willard. So we have four injured players.
How important has the full week between matches been for preparations and recovery within the squad?
We have recovered well. We arrived on Monday, started training on Tuesday and the boys are okay and in good shape. Yes, we have recovered.
The team has shown encouraging attacking moments this season. From a coaching perspective, what would you still like to improve heading into Matchweek 4?
I would like to see my players playing with heart, creating chances and finishing the chances. In the previous matches, we created plenty of goal-scoring chances, but we only scored a few. So I would want to see them scoring more from the chances created.
There was a strong atmosphere in Mwanza during our last home match there. How important will the supporters be again to the team?
Yes, it is very important to have more support because it encourages the players. I think it is even a welcome development to have more support from our supporters and we encourage them to keep coming and supporting their team.
We have seen contributions from several new players early in the season. How pleased have you been with the way the squad is settling into your demands?
They are good players and they have already made a significant contribution to the team. We are encouraging them to keep fighting and maintain their discipline, and we believe they will have a good season judging by the way they have started.
Innocent Nyasulu delivered an important performance in the derby victory last weekend. How pleased were you with the way he handled such a big occasion?
We are very pleased because he is a very good goalkeeper and performed very well. I think he is our last man and he did well, hence earning the Man of the Match award.
After an emotional derby victory, how important is it for the team to remain focused and avoid complacency heading into this weekend’s fixture?
We have advised the boys during training that winning against Wanderers doesn’t mean it is over. We still have games to fight for and we know they have listened to us. We believe they will do a good job.
Finally, what message would you like to give Maule ahead of Sunday’s match?
They have to come in large numbers and support the team. I believe the team will not disappoint them because the players are eager to keep doing well for the team and for the supporters.
