Head coach Wedson Nyirenda spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s trip to Masters FC, discussing preparations, competition for places and the importance of maintaining our winning start to the second round.
With Bullets returning to Bingu National Stadium for the 15:00 kick-off, Nyirenda outlined the improvements he wants in possession and in front of goal following Saturday’s victory over Civil Service United.
He also discussed recruitment, Sheku Sheriff’s progress and George Chaomba’s recent contributions, alongside the latest on Innocent Nyasulu following his return to training.
Below is the full pre-match press conference.
Coach, Bullets secured a hard-fought win against Civil, but you felt the performance could have been better. What have you worked on this week?
I will echo my words again. Every game for Bullets is like a final, so it is not going to be easy. Seeing my team getting victories, even when it is difficult, shows that it has championship material.
This is another fixture that will be very tricky and very tough. We are playing Masters in their own backyard, so we have done our homework, and the boys are looking good.
We have worked on the problems we had in the past two games. Despite winning, we did not look ourselves as much as we should have.
Our vertical play was lacking, so opening up in midfield was a little shaky until we made changes. The boys have understood the problem, and we have done a lot of work on it this week.
We created few clear chances against Civil. What would you like to see from our attacking players on Sunday?
We want them to take those scoring opportunities and turn them into goals. If you do not convert your chances, you can be punished.
We are seeing strikers who are hungry in training. Ephraim has gone two or three games without scoring, and he is a contender for the Golden Boot. He is looking sharp.
Tinaye is looking good as well. We have George Chaomba and the other players up front, and they are all looking good. I am excited about the competition.
What is the latest team news ahead of Sunday?
Our medical bill is clean. We thank God that everyone is okay, and the competition is looking good for us.
Everyone is fine apart from Mapemba, who is still injured.
Masters have several former Bullets players who won titles here. What sort of game are you expecting?
It is not going to be easy. Players want to prove themselves against a team they played for. They may feel they have unfinished business or want to show that they deserved to be here.
But if they are coming from here, we also know them. So it is equal.
The team struggled for goals earlier in the campaign. What have you done to improve the attacking output?
I think I have answered this before. When I came in, the question in my first interview was what I would do differently to change the team’s fortunes.
The first thing was to make the players believe in themselves. I spoke about giving them confidence and the belief that they could do it.
We have worked on finishing because I believe goalscoring is an art. We have worked on their composure and other aspects of finishing.
That is how we have unlocked their potential. Compared with that period, it is a completely different side because any player can get a goal.
Can you confirm whether there is a foreign striker being assessed by the club?
We have Mansouh Diahkpo, who has come from Liberia for assessment. He is a striker.
We are trying to build a stronger team, not only for the Malawi league but also for continental challenges. We believe we can win the league, and we do not want to be caught napping.
We want the players to have gelled by the time we come into continental football. We will be working towards that during this second round.
If he proves himself, he stays. I always say that when you are good, you are good. If you are not, you are not.
Scouting and recruitment should be continuous in football. The clubs that do it well are the clubs people admire, such as Manchester City and Mamelodi Sundowns.
I always give Sundowns as an example because they are consistent with their scouting. You should not make one signing, start winning games and then go to sleep. It does not work like that.
Great teams keep phasing players in and out so that competition stays alive and the team remains strong.
Sheku Sheriff featured in friendlies during the break but is still waiting for his competitive opportunity. How do you assess his progress?
Sheku has been here, and there is competition, but there is a right time for a player to come into the thick of things. We do not want to rush him.
There are players doing well in his position. He is a good player, his time will come, and when it does, he will show what he can do.
Tinaye has already shown people what he can do. He came on with 13 minutes left and scored two goals.
We are balancing the team. Selection also depends on the opposition and the system we want to use. There are players suited to particular systems, and we want options that allow us to dictate a game or respond to what the other team is doing.
That is the depth we want. If we get into continental football, we will be balancing two competitions. You might play a continental match on Saturday and then have a league game on Wednesday or Thursday.
You need players who can take over when others have played. We want a squad that can meet those demands and give us different tactical options.
Having won a close game against Masters in the first round, what did you learn about them from that meeting?
When you watch these teams playing other opponents, you can be misled into thinking you will have an easy game. But when they play Bullets, everything changes. We know that.
When we played Masters here, they gave us a tough time. They closed the gaps, closed the spaces and worked hard.
We are not going to be misled by anything. I always say every game is a new game. We are going there with a plan, and our application must suit the game on that day.
Bullets have a good record at Bingu. Does that make us favourites?
I wish we could go to the stadium as equals.
We have won all three games since the restart. What will be key to sustaining that consistency?
We have to beat complacency. That is the biggest enemy we are fighting now.
What gives me joy is seeing a group of players in training who have forgotten what they have already won. They are training as though they have not won those games.
They want to win the next one. There is a lot of hard work, a lot of competition, and the understanding between the players is there. We are looking good.
George Chaomba has made important contributions since returning from injury. What has impressed you about him?
Chaomba and Paul Master were in the same situation. They were out for six weeks or more, and that gave them a lot of hunger for the game.
They also have something in common. They are quiet, disciplined, hardworking and eager to learn. They are quick learners.
Chaomba is tenacious and works hard on the pitch. He has no fear and is a striker who is good at engaging defenders. That is what is making him effective.
Innocent Nyasulu has returned following his father’s passing. How is he doing, and could he travel with the squad?
That young man is very strong and brave. May his father’s soul rest in peace.
He lost his father on matchday while he was with the team, and he left to be with his family.
After the burial and the funeral rites, he decided to return to work. You can see how seriously he takes his work here. He arrived in good time and trained with us.
We are still assessing whether he will be ready to travel. He looked good today, and he will train again tomorrow. We will make a decision before travelling.
What is your message to the supporters preparing to back Bullets in Lilongwe?
Our landlords are doing a good job. We have made them happy, and they are coming to the stadiums.
My message is always to thank them for supporting us and creating a good atmosphere for the players. The players look forward to seeing them there.
I believe a team is more than the players on the pitch. It includes the board, executives, managers, coaches, players, supporters and even the groundsman. That is what I call a team.
The supporters have a big role. What we promise is that we will continue to work through the pain to make them happy.
Those who stayed with the team even when things were not going well deserve special applause.
