Assistant coach Heston Munthali discusses preparations for the first trip to the Northern Region this season, lessons from the Dedza defeat, Karonga United’s home threat, squad availability, players training with the team, the title race and Kondwani Tebulo’s development.
Ahead of Sunday’s FDH Bank Premiership encounter at Karonga Stadium, Munthali addressed the media during this week’s pre-match press conference, standing in for head coach Wedson Nyirenda.
Bullets enter the Matchweek 13 fixture following a 2-0 victory over Chitipa United, with Munthali reflecting on the improvements made in that performance and the work undertaken to prepare the players for the demands of another away assignment.
He also assessed Karonga’s capabilities, provided the latest injury update and discussed how young players such as Tebulo are being gradually integrated into the senior team.
Below is the full pre-match press conference.
Good afternoon, Coach, and welcome to this pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s FDH Bank Premiership encounter against Karonga United. What has been the main focus in preparing for this assignment?
Good afternoon, and thank you very much. We are travelling to Karonga to play Karonga United, and since we started training on Tuesday, the players have been fully focused on the game.
As you know, we are coming from a victory, so morale is high. However, we cannot assume that it will be a simple match just because we won last weekend. We have to remain focused and continue working hard, and the players have shown a real hunger to win the game.
After the defeat to Goshen City Dedza Dynamos before the Airtel Top 8 break, what lessons did the team learn, and how can they help secure a positive result against Karonga United?
We had been concerned about not converting our chances in the previous two matches. If you look at the game against Dedza, we did not create enough opportunities to score, but against Chitipa, we created many chances and managed to score two goals, so there was an improvement.
We want to continue creating opportunities on Sunday. We just have to remain composed and believe in ourselves.
This will be our longest journey of the season so far. How have you prepared the players for the trip and the demands of playing at Karonga Stadium?
When you travel for an away match, there are always different challenges that can arise. Sometimes it may be officiating, pressure from the home supporters or even difficulties with training arrangements.
We have discussed all those possibilities with the players, and with the quality and experience we have in the squad, we believe they understand what is required. We are confident they will put up a strong fight and do everything possible to win the game.
Are there any players who will miss this fixture through injury, and what is the latest on those currently sidelined?
We have added another player to the injury list. Hassan Kajoke has a knee injury, so he joins George Chaomba and the other players who are still recovering. However, all the players who were available against Chitipa remain fit.
What progress has been made in assessing Sheku Sheriff and the other players training with the team?
Sheku has trained with us for three days, but we are still assessing him. We need to give him and the others more time so that we can evaluate them properly.
We are travelling to Karonga, and they will not be part of the team, so we still have time to continue assessing them.
Tinaye Tsimba has now spent about two weeks training with the team. What more do you need to see from him?
There are still aspects we need to assess. We have to analyse his movement and several other areas before making a decision.
Karonga United may be in the lower half of the table, but they demonstrated their quality by overturning a two-goal deficit against Silver Strikers in the Airtel Top 8. What kind of challenge are you expecting?
Every team that faces Bullets prepares very well, and we know it will not be easy to play Karonga United at Karonga Stadium. However, our preparations have been very good this week.
As I have already said, we are coming from a victory, and our focus is now on the next game. Everyone is competing strongly to earn a place in the team, and we hope to carry the day.
Karonga have collected most of their points at home. How important will it be for Bullets to establish control, particularly in the early stages?
We have prepared well for the match, and there have been plenty of positive signs in training. We understand that it will be a difficult encounter, but as FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, we are ready for the challenge and looking forward to the game.
With Bullets two points behind Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles, how important would another three points be for the team’s title ambitions?
Our focus is on ourselves—how we prepare and how we approach each game. What the other teams do is beyond our control and not our concern.
Our emphasis has been on ensuring that the players understand the importance of this trip and the significance of securing a positive result. A victory would not only boost morale within the camp but also strengthen our position in the standings as the title race intensifies.
Away matches often demand a different approach. How do you balance attacking intent with the discipline and game management required on the road?
We have worked on that in training, and we hope the players understand how to start the game strongly and how to manage the different stages of the contest.
You introduced Kondwani Tebulo for his senior debut against Chitipa, and he nearly scored shortly after coming on. What did you make of his first appearance?
Young players need time to adapt and learn how to handle the pressure that comes with playing at this level. It is important that we introduce them gradually, allowing them to gain experience and confidence step by step.
As they continue developing, they will become more comfortable within the team and be able to contribute in the same way as the more experienced players.
