Wedson Nyirenda expects FCB Nyasa Big Bullets to return to Dedza Stadium with a stronger mentality when we face Luanar Mitundu on Sunday.
Bullets return to Dedza Stadium a month after suffering our first FDH Bank Premiership defeat of the season at the venue against Goshen City Dedza Dynamos.
Since then, Nyirenda’s side have responded with successive victories over Chitipa United and Karonga United, keeping clean sheets in both matches.
Ahead of a second visit to Dedza this season, the head coach believes the response shown in recent weeks — together with the standards he has seen in training — should translate into a stronger approach on Sunday.
Asked what Bullets must improve on their return to the same surroundings, Nyirenda stressed the importance of preparing the players mentally.
“I think the most important thing is to psych the players. We are going back to the same venue where we lost, so it is the same environment and the same atmosphere we are going to face,” he said.
“It is about changing the approach. I think our approach in the previous game was not good enough, but this time, looking at the way we are training, the boys have really lifted their spirits.”
The return to Dedza also comes just seven days after another demanding away assignment in Karonga.
Ephraim Kondowe’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 victory last weekend, and Nyirenda explained that recovery and workload management have been central to preparations for Luanar.
“We have to manage the players’ rest and recovery. We had a very long journey to Karonga and back, which took a lot of energy from the players, and we have taken that into consideration with our programme,” he explained.
“The boys have rested well and I think they have recovered. We needed to refresh them, give them enough rest and manage the volume of work.”
With the physical demands carefully managed, Nyirenda has also been encouraged by the intensity shown in training and expects the same level to carry into Sunday’s performance.
A victory would give Bullets a third successive league win, and when asked what will be required to extend that run, the head coach again pointed to approach, attitude and intensity.
“It is the approach. It is always the approach and the attitude on the pitch. The aggression and the intensity of the game will also be important,” Nyirenda added.
“What I saw in training this morning was very encouraging. If we can replicate that on the pitch, then I do not see any team stopping us.”
Bullets travel to Dedza third in the FDH Bank Premiership standings with 26 points from 13 matches, level with second-placed Mighty Wanderers and two points behind leaders Silver Strikers.
Sunday’s meeting with Luanar will be our final away fixture of the first round, with kick-off at Dedza Stadium at 14:30.
