It’s a defining week for The People’s Team as Gilbert Chirwa’s men ramp up preparations for the Castel Challenge Cup final against Goshen City Dedza Dynamos.
The First Team remains the only active side in the Bullets family, with the Reserves, Women and Under-19 teams having completed their respective campaigns in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League, the NBM Women’s Premiership and the Blantyre District Youth Football League.
With the domestic calendar concluding on Saturday, full focus is now on ensuring the senior squad is ready for one final push.
Final Preparations Underway
Monday, 16 February | Kamuzu Stadium
Preparations resumed at Kamuzu Stadium on Monday as the technical panel put the squad through high-intensity sessions to maintain sharpness ahead of the final.
The semifinal victory over Mzuzu City Hammers, highlighted by midfielder Wongani Lungu’s brace against his former side, has boosted morale as Saturday’s showdown approaches.
Maxwell Phodo enters the final as the tournament’s leading scorer with seven goals from four matches — a new competition record — while fullback Yamikani Mologeni, deployed as a wing attacker in recent games, has contributed six assists in Bullets’ ten goals so far, reflecting the squad’s attacking rhythm and versatility.
This campaign has already been remarkable for Maule. The club lifted the Airtel Top 8, reached the FDH Bank Cup semifinals, and finished as runners-up in the TNM Super League. Now, with a chance to win a second Castel Challenge Cup since 2023 and secure the club’s 38th major trophy, the stakes could not be higher.
Momentum is high, but the focus remains on collective discipline and unity as the team fine-tunes preparations for the decisive clash.
Pre-Match Press Conference
Thursday, 19 February | Bullets Club House | 11:00
Head Coach Gilbert Chirwa will address the media on Thursday morning, providing updates on squad readiness and insights ahead of the final at Bingu National Stadium.
Supporters can look forward to updates on the squad and key messages from Chirwa as the team gears up for the season’s finale.
The Grand Finale
Saturday, 21 February | Bingu National Stadium | 15:00
Bullets will face Goshen City Dedza Dynamos in the Castel Challenge Cup final, aiming to lift the trophy for a second time since 2023.
With silverware and continental ambitions on the line, Maule aim to cap an already impressive season in style, completing a campaign that has seen us lift the Airtel Top 8, reach the FDH Bank Cup semifinals, finish as TNM Super League runners-up, and now contest our second cup final of the year.
The Red Army is expected to turn Bingu National Stadium into a cauldron of support as the club chases its 38th major trophy.
