FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will continue preparations for the second round of the 2026/27 season when we face NBS Bank National Division League side Changalume Barracks in a midseason friendly at Zomba Stadium on Sunday.
The FDH Bank Premiership will resume on 10 October, giving us more than a month between our final first-round fixture and the return to league action.
The extended break, which coincides with the FIFA International Window, has given Nyirenda’s side an opportunity to schedule friendly matches as we build towards the second round.
Kick-off on Sunday is at 14:30.
For Nyirenda, the encounter will provide an opportunity to maintain match sharpness, give valuable minutes to players who have had limited competitive involvement and hand our new signings their first appearance in front of the supporters.
The squad resumed training last week following the completion of the first round, with preparations now focused on the return to league action.
Our last competitive outing came on 5 September, when Maule closed the first round with a 5-0 victory over Silver Strikers at Mpira Stadium.
The international window has meanwhile taken a sizeable contingent away from the squad, with Bullets represented across three Malawi national teams.
Two first-team players are with the senior Flames, one first-team player and two Reserves players are with the Under-23s, while five first-team players and one Reserves player are with the Under-20 side.
Oscar Petro, currently on loan at Civil Service United, is also away with the national setup.
Changalume, who currently sit 12th in the 12-member NBS Bank National Division League, are familiar opponents for The People’s Team.
The sides last met competitively in the Castel Challenge Cup in November 2024, when we recorded a 5-0 victory at Mpira Stadium. We also faced each other in a friendly at Balaka Stadium in May last year, with Maule again winning 5-0.
Sunday’s encounter will be followed by another friendly against NBS Bank National Division League opposition, with Bullets travelling to Mchinji on 4 October to face second-placed Extreme FC at Aubrey Dimba Stadium.
The two fixtures form part of our build-up to the second round, which begins for us on 11 October when Nyirenda’s side host league leaders Blue Eagles in our opening FDH Bank Premiership fixture of the second round.
The teams drew 1-1 in their first-round meeting in Lilongwe in May.
Tickets for Sunday’s friendly will be available at Zomba Stadium on match day, priced at K5,000 for the Open Stands and K10,000 for the VIP section.
