Ahead of Saturday’s TNM Super League showdown against Civil Service United at Civo Stadium, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Peter Mponda faced the press on Thursday to share insights on the team’s preparations, injury updates, standout performers, and the ongoing title charge.
With the race for the championship heating up, The People’s Team will be looking to stretch their lead at the summit before shifting focus to next weekend’s Airtel Top 8 final.
Here’s the full transcript from Mponda’s pre-match press conference:
On the team’s preparation for Civil
Preparations have been okay; we can’t complain, even though we still have injuries in the squad. We have Chrispin Mapemba, who is still out, and Mike Mkwate as well. Wongani Lungu didn’t train for two days and is facing late fitness tests. The doctors are still assessing him to determine whether he will travel or not. Apart from those three, all the players are training well and competition for places has been strong.
On Mapemba’s recovery progress
Slowly, he is coming back. The doctors gave us positive news—his pain is reducing, and he’s about to start his rehabilitation. He’s not feeling any pain now and can move freely. We don’t want to rush him because that might worsen the situation, but slowly he’s coming up.
On expectations ahead of facing Civil
It’s not just Civil—every team raises their game when they play Bullets. Lilongwe is always a tough place to go to. In the last two years, we haven’t collected maximum points there. But the boys are showing good signs—they want to win this one. A victory is important for us, and the way the players are training gives us a positive feeling.
On the effect of national team breaks
These breaks always disrupt us. They come right when we are building momentum, and that affects our flow. But we don’t want to make excuses. We want to go to Lilongwe and collect maximum points.
On Babatunde’s importance and consistency
Babatunde has already proven himself as one of the most consistent players at Bullets. Not just this season—he’s always scoring and topping the charts. He’s hardworking and disciplined, and that doesn’t happen by chance. It’s all down to his personal effort and the support from his teammates. He’s a very important player for us.
On Mpokera’s resurgence and impact
Blessings is a great example of hard work and resilience. Last season, he didn’t get much game time and was frustrated. But instead of giving up, he used that frustration to grow. He’s taken every opportunity this season and we’re benefitting from his performances. He’s a good player and he’s proving his worth every time he plays.
On the importance of winning against Civil
We’ve always said it—if we want to win the championship, we can’t rely on other teams. Yes, we’re going to Lilongwe to win, but this game won’t decide the title. There are still many matches left. That said, our target is to get three points and the players are motivated to do that.
On managing squad rotation
Of course, we have a small squad, and the players need rest. But every game is important—we can’t make too many changes, although some players might be rested. Saturday’s game is crucial, so we need all our key players available.
On balancing league duties and the Top 8 final
Right now, the most important game is against Civil. That’s where our focus is. After Saturday, we’ll switch to the final.
