Ahead of Saturday’s FDH Bank Cup Round of 16 tie against The Boyz, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets First Assistant Coach Gilbert Chirwa addressed the media to preview our long-awaited return to action at Kamuzu Stadium.
Chirwa reflected on the team’s preparations after a lengthy break from competitive football, shared insights on the players’ readiness, and emphasised the importance of treating the lower-league opponents with full respect.
Below is the full Q&A from Chirwa’s pre-match press conference:
On the approach to the game
“As Bullets, we take this game seriously. A cup game is a cup game – there’s no such thing as a big or small team. Honestly, we don’t know much about The Boyz. We’ve only heard the name, but we’re taking the tie very seriously.”
On the effect of the prolonged break
“That’s very true. It has been weeks since we played a competitive match. After our win against Songwe Border United, we were informed the Flames would travel to Botswana, and then just last week, the Dedza game was cancelled at the eleventh hour. That was worrying, but we are a big team and we must maintain our focus. We resumed training on Monday and have since intensified our sessions. A cup match must never be taken lightly—we’ll treat them with full seriousness, like any other opponent.”
On the players’ body language after the break
“That’s exactly why we took the squad through a special training programme. This week, they’ve been looking sharp, and we’re confident they will be ready for Saturday’s match.”
On Yankho Singo’s update
“All players are present, including Singo. This gives us the full squad to choose from, which is a very positive situation for the technical panel.”
On expectations from The Boyz FC
“Facing a team you know very little about is always tricky. Cup football is unpredictable—especially against lesser-known sides. That’s why we’re preparing with full concentration and not underestimating them.”
On the need to return to winning ways at Kamuzu Stadium
“As we return to Kamuzu Stadium, we expect the boys to be focused from the first whistle. We want them to take the game seriously and maintain concentration. What happened after the Karonga United game was unfortunate. Yes, fans have high expectations, but damaging the bus and confronting players was uncalled for. In football, you win, draw, or lose—it’s part of the game. But we are ready to move forward together.”
