The Bullets head coach says the players have continued to embrace his football philosophy as he enters his second full week in charge.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Wedson Nyirenda believes his players’ willingness to embrace new ideas is accelerating the implementation of the attacking, front-foot style of football he wants to establish at the club.
Having taken charge shortly before Bullets’ Airtel Top 8 quarter-final against Ekhaya FC, the former Zambia international oversaw his first full week of training ahead of the FDH Bank Premiership meeting with Kamuzu Barracks.
Now in his second full week on the training ground, Nyirenda says the players have continued to impress him with their appetite to learn.
The early signs of his philosophy were evident in last weekend’s 2-1 FDH Bank Premiership victory over Kamuzu Barracks.
After a series of performances in which Bullets had struggled to consistently impose themselves from the outset, Maule started on the front foot, pressed aggressively and dominated the opening half.
Bullets created a host of goalscoring opportunities, won nine corner kicks before the break and went into half-time with a deserved lead after Ephraim Kondowe opened the scoring.
The performance offered encouraging signs of the attacking, positive football Nyirenda has been working to implement since taking charge.
Speaking during Thursday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Monday’s league encounter against Masters FC, Nyirenda said one of the biggest positives he has noticed since arriving in Blantyre is how quickly the squad has absorbed his ideas.
“One thing I have not seen in many places, which I have seen here, is how quickly these players learn,” said the head coach.
“The learning rate is just too quick. The things I have taught them in a short period of time are not easy, but they have picked them up very quickly.
“Some of the drills are things you normally have to repeat week after week, but they have understood them in a very short space of time.”
Nyirenda believes that eagerness to learn has accelerated the implementation of his ideas, giving the team a strong platform to continue developing.
“If we continue pushing them and the conditions allow, I think we can achieve something great.”
The Bullets boss said the progress has also been evident on the training ground, where he has noticed a significant shift in the team’s mentality and approach.
“Over the last two days of training, I have seen a shift in mentality. The players are now looking to go forward more often.
“Today, I saw something huge. Everyone wanted to move forward and be positive.”
The encouraging signs on both the training ground and against Kamuzu Barracks have reinforced Nyirenda’s belief that Bullets are moving in the right direction as he continues implementing his football philosophy.
Attention now turns to Monday’s FDH Bank Premiership encounter against Masters at Mpira Stadium, where Nyirenda will be hoping to see further evidence of the progress his players have shown both on the training ground and in last weekend’s victory over Kamuzu Barracks.
