David Chinoko has been appointed to officiate the highly anticipated Blantyre derby this Saturday in the TNM Super League at Kamuzu Stadium.
This fiercely contested rivalry will see FCB Nyasa Big Bullets face off against Mighty Wanderers for the 78th time in Malawian football’s premier fixture. Both teams call Kamuzu Stadium home, adding another layer of intrigue to this already intense encounter.
With three crucial points on the line, both sides are determined to secure nothing less than victory. Bullets, who come into the match as the designated away side with 18 points, are seeking a win that would extend their lead at the top of the table to eight points. Meanwhile, the Nomads, currently in second place, will be looking to close the gap to just two points with a victory.
The Mzuzu-based Chinoko previously took charge of this blockbuster fixture on October 26 last season, when The People’s Team overcame the Nomads 2-1 at Kamuzu Stadium. In that match, goals from Ronald Chitiyo and Babatunde Adepoju secured all three points for Bullets, while Thierry Tajong Samar netted a consolation for our opponents.
Chinoko’s first involvement in a Bullets match came in October 2023, when he was the man in the middle for the second leg of our Airtel Top 8 clash against Civil Service United in Blantyre. Since then, he has overseen eight more league and cup matches involving Maule, with Saturday’s showdown set to mark his tenth time as centre referee for our fixture.
Happiness Mbandambanda and Mussa Grant have been appointed as assistant referees for the derby. The experienced Blantyre pair have frequently run the lines for Bullets matches, including previous editions of the Blantyre derby. Mbandambanda also brings additional pedigree, having officiated internationally at tournaments such as the COSAFA Women’s Championship.
Easter Zimba, who has refereed numerous Bullets fixtures—including our 2024 TNM Super League opener against Silver Strikers—will serve as the fourth official. Retired referee Moffat Champiti has been named as the match assessor.
Blantyre Derby Tickets: Wanderers vs. Bullets
