New signing Alihaji Mnjale is ready to compete for his place after months of training alongside the first team.
There are places to be earned at the heart of the FCB Nyasa Big Bullets defence, and Alihaji Mnjale believes he has the qualities to make his mark.
The 22-year-old has been training with the first team since July and, after several months working alongside established players, has now signed a three-year contract until 30 June 2029.
Primarily a centre-back who can also operate in defensive midfield, he brings height, composure and the ability to build from the back. His experience captaining Malawi at the 2026 CUCSA Games in Botswana has also added another dimension to his profile.
We spoke to Mnjale about his first months with The People’s Team, the qualities he believes he can bring to the squad and what he hopes to achieve in the years ahead.
“First of all, I bring my height, and I am confident that my height can help the defence. I would also bring composure and calmness when defending, without rushing the ball, as well as the ability to build from the back.”
Those qualities will now be tested in a squad where opportunities have to be earned.
Mnjale understands the challenge, but there is no sense of him being intimidated by it. If anything, the competition reinforces his belief that the club saw something in him.
“The competition is already high, as you have said. But I believe the coaches will give me an opportunity to play when they feel the time is right. If they signed me, they saw something in me. I will wait for my opportunity to play and showcase my game so that I can continue playing for Bullets.”
The months spent around the first team have already given him a glimpse of what life at one of Malawi’s biggest clubs demands. They have also brought a personal sense of fulfilment.
“It has been a marathon, to tell the truth. I have met different guys with different behaviours, and being with the club has been very important in my life because I have met some of the players I used to watch when I was a child. Being with them and playing alongside them feels like a dream come true.”
That daily exposure has given Mnjale the chance to learn from players with years of experience at the highest level of the domestic game.
“Playing with guys who have played in the Super League for several years, with some having more than 10 years of experience, has given me an opportunity to learn from them. I believe that experience will polish my performance and help my career.”
That support has extended beyond the training ground.
Blessings Mpokera and Emmanuel Kaunga have helped him settle into the environment while giving him a benchmark for what it takes to compete at this level.
“Playing alongside guys like Mpokera and Emmanuel has been great because they have shown me love and have been teaching me how I can become a better player and hopefully surpass what they have achieved.”
His journey to The People’s Team has also been shaped by opportunities to test himself beyond Malawi’s domestic game.
After impressing at the Tessam Tournament, Mnjale earned selection for Malawi at the 2026 CUCSA Games in Botswana, where he captained the side.
It was his first appearance at the competition and another opportunity to measure himself against teams from across the region.
“We played against teams from South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana, and these were great teams. We also played Zimbabwe, who were eventually crowned champions. Being able to play against these teams polished my game because I saw how I could improve and learned from what the other teams were doing.”
The experience also sharpened another part of his game that he wants to continue developing at Bullets: leadership.
“I would like to build my leadership skills because the position I play requires hard work and someone who is able to lead the team.”
Ultimately, Mnjale’s focus is on establishing himself at Bullets and contributing to a team competing for silverware.
“I would love to win trophies with Bullets because, since I was a child, Bullets has always been at the top. Playing for this club comes with huge pressure, so I will try as much as possible to work hard on the pitch so that I can help the team win trophies.”
That ambition sits alongside a journey that has taken him through Bible Young Stars in Chilomoni, Lyzee United, Ndirande Stars U20, Chisomo Football Academy, Red Lions, University of Malawi Football Club and QPL All Stars before arriving at The People’s Team.
It is a journey he knows has required resilience.
Growing up in Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba, Mnjale credits the people closest to him for helping him keep moving forward.
“Signing for Bullets is a blessing, and I thank God for it. It has been tough coming up from the ghettos and growing up in cities like Blantyre, Mzuzu and Zomba. I also want to thank my family for always supporting me throughout my career.”
Now, with his place at The People’s Team secured, Mnjale has his sights set beyond simply establishing himself in Malawi.
“Bullets has a huge platform, as you already know. Playing for a club like this could lead me to the international stage, where I could have an opportunity to play outside the country. That is my dream.”
For now, the next step is closer to home: earning the trust of the technical team, making his opportunity count and beginning to build his own story in red and white.
And for the supporters who are only now getting to know the new signing, Mnjale has a simple message.
“I just wish they will have patience with me and continue supporting me while I play for Bullets. Sometimes we meet the fans in town and they ask, ‘You are playing for Bullets? Who are you?’ Now they know that I have signed for Bullets. I will just need their support so that I can continue establishing myself at Bullets and stay here for many years.”
