Head coach Wedson Nyirenda spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Civil Service United, discussing our winning start to the second round, competition for places and the latest team news.
With Bullets returning to Mpira Stadium after Sunday’s 3-0 victory over MAFCO, Nyirenda reflected on the balance between scoring goals and defending as a team.
He also discussed Tinaye Tsimba’s impact, Peter Banda’s limited game time and Innocent Nyasulu’s contribution, alongside fitness updates on Chrispin Mapemba and Blessings Mpokera.
Nyirenda expressed his appreciation for the supporters, particularly those who continued backing the team through difficult periods.
Below is the full pre-match press conference.
Coach, two wins and five goals without reply since the restart. What has pleased you most, and where do you still want more from the team?
I think a coach cannot be more pleased than to have a team that is defending well and scoring goals.
We have continued keeping clean sheets, and we are also getting the goals, meaning the results should be in our favour. That is a very good thing for the team. It means all departments are firing and working.
Civil have given us some closely contested matches, including this season’s 2-2 draw at Civo Stadium. What will be key to getting the better of them on Saturday?
The key is that we have prepared. I think we have prepared very well. We depend on our own plans, not the other team’s plans.
People can say that last year this happened, or the other year that happened, but I always say every game is a new game.
I will give the example of MAFCO because I was told that when we beat them, it has always been 1-0; otherwise, it has to be a draw. So, what happened in the last match? It was crazy. We won convincingly.
I am using that as a reference, but we have to keep doing new things.
Civil like to build their play through captain and former Bullets midfielder Righteous Banda. How important will it be to control midfield?
We have worked on that in training. We are not a team that concentrates too much on one individual because, if you do that, you spend all your energy and strength planning for one player.
At the end of the day, you might find that he is unwell and is not there. What do you do?
Like I said, we plan our own game, and we want the other team to follow. We want to act and the other team to react to us.
Looking at the threats coming our way, we have already worked on addressing them, and I think it will be a good game.
Tinaye Tsimba came on with 13 minutes remaining against MAFCO and scored twice. How close is he to earning his first start?
He is a good striker, no doubt. His time will come, and that time is not very far away.
Your substitutes have made important contributions. How valuable is it to have that depth both on the pitch and on the bench?
That is a good sign that we are now championship contenders: having players who can come in and make a difference.
You look at George Chaomba, Tinaye Tsimba, Paul Master and others, and the way they have been coming into games over the past two weeks.
It shows that our depth is growing, and that is something a coach should be very proud of.
Peter Banda has had limited game time and was not involved against MAFCO. How do you see his role in the squad?
Every player at Bullets is an important part of the team. They all have a role to play.
I have always told the players that, if you do not play today, it means you are playing another part outside the pitch. You do not have to grumble or complain because your time is coming.
As it stands, Peter has a chance to prove himself, so you will see what happens on Saturday.
We have kept six successive league clean sheets while also improving in front of goal. What has been key to achieving that balance?
I think it is discipline. When I came, I remember saying in my first interview that the first thing we had to do was give the players self-belief and confidence.
They are the ones who have to do the job. Our role as coaches is to guide them.
I emphasised restoring their belief: that they have the ability and can do it for us. That is exactly what we have been doing every day in training and every time we meet our players.
We tell them how good they are while working on the things we need to improve. We concentrate more on the positives than the negatives.
These players are now confident in what they can do. They know what they possess, which is why you are seeing the goals coming.
When we lose the ball, we have to defend together as a team. When we win it, we have to attack as one. It is total football, and I think both aspects are working well.
Innocent Nyasulu has been instrumental this season. What has impressed you about his performances and the team’s defensive improvement?
As we say, it is about the unit. When we lose the ball, we all defend as a team. That applies to every player.
When we win the ball, we have to play. You have seen how the team has changed in terms of our football. We build from the back, and everyone enjoys playing until we get to the final third.
When we defend, it starts from the front. You see Ephraim Kondowe and the other players chasing from there because there is unity of purpose.
Nyasulu has been a very good goalkeeper for us. He commands his defence well and is doing very well.
It is a great surprise to me that a goalkeeper with so many clean sheets is not in the national team, while there are goalkeepers there who are not even playing. To me, I am sorry to say, that is not okay.
Bullets lead the table with 36 points. What will be essential to sustaining that position as the competition intensifies?
We need to be consistent. We do not need to look back. We look forward, and every game counts.
Like I always say, we take each game as it comes. We should not look at what others are doing, their results or who they are going to play.
Our focus should be on our own games. Let us concentrate on Civil, get the three points and move on.
How do you balance maintaining a performing starting XI with giving opportunities to players outside the team?
This is what we call management. We speak to our players individually and as a group, and we make changes when changes are necessary.
We cannot always say we should not change a winning team. A winning team is good, but sometimes, tactically, you need to bring somebody in to change something so that the team keeps winning.
Civil’s recent results have been decided by narrow margins. How important will patience and decision-making be if Saturday’s game remains tight?
They have been doing this since before we played Blue Eagles.
As I said ahead of that game, we will apply ourselves according to what we have been preparing.
What is the latest team news, particularly on Chrispin Mapemba and his progress towards full fitness?
First and foremost, Mapemba’s situation remains the same. He still feels a little pain, but he is very close to returning to the pitch.
Then we have Blessings Mpokera, who is experiencing discomfort in his knee. We hope the final assessments from the doctors will be positive.
We have seen you dancing with the supporters and heard them chanting your name. How does it feel to share those moments with them?
It pleases me to see the landlords happy. Those are the people who make us play good football. Without them, we cannot have football being played.
We need that atmosphere, and I am glad to be part of a technical bench that has brought the people back where they belong.
As for the celebrations, sometimes it is unavoidable. These people want you to dance and show that you appreciate them, so you give them a few moves to show that you are on the same page.
You must be looking forward to seeing them again at Mpira Stadium on Saturday?
Obviously, I think there will be many supporters on Saturday. We need everyone to come through and see their team.
We also want to thank those who never stopped coming, even when things were not going well, because that is what we call support.
