FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women are set to begin the FAM Women’s Football Southern Region League title defence with an away fixture against Bvumbwe FC at Bvumbwe Community Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Having scored a staggering number of 169 goals from 14 games in the 2022 campaign, in which they conceded only three, our ladies retained the championship last season with 42 points without tasting a single defeat.
Speaking ahead of the new season, Bullets Women coach, Maggie Chombo, assured that her side is well prepared for the campaign which she believes will be a different challenge, having parted ways with several experienced players and roping in fresh faces.
“The championship is something that we have been waiting for. We have been preparing for it for quite so long now. The girls look ready on the training pitch,” she told club media ahead of the trip away to Bvumbwe.
“Last season we won the league unbeaten and as we start this season, we will pick a different approach as we have new players who are very young. We want to make a mixture of youngsters and seniors while building the team in this transition period.
“It will not be an easy season as teams will not come to try but to make sure they do well in this competition,” said our women’s side coach.
During the two-month off-season break, the defending champions played against United Desportivo De Lichinga Women of Mozambique twice, losing 1-0 in the first match and winning 3-1 in the second match.
Our ladies’ third and final pre-season friendly was up against Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Womens in a tie the reigning champions won 5-1.
With all the work they have been putting in, Chombo’s side seems braced for another fruitful chase for the title.
Something to look at the reigning champions is that they enter the new season with new faces in Asimenye Mwanyongo, Vanessa Issa, Leah Musa, Efa Msukwa and Shamiso Issa, who will be filling the gap left by Shira Dimba, Doreen Dickson, Chimwemwe Billy, Caro Majamanda and Emily Jossam.
On Saturday afternoon, Chombo’s ladies will be facing a side they walloped 20-0 in their final meeting in the previous campaign at the Kamuzu Stadium in January.