Nyasa Big Bullets host Silver Strikers in the TNM Super League top-of-the-table clash at Kamuzu Stadium this afternoon.
The first-round favoured the Central Bankers, who scored with a minute to go to collect full points at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
That defeat to Kalisto Pasuwa’s side in the opening half of the campaign is likely to make Friday’s game very entertaining as Bullets will go flat out to avenge and possibly dethrone the Area 47 side from the top position.
Stats from previous encounters show Bullets with most wins at Kamuzu Stadium and the defending champions haven’t lost to Silver Stadium at home for the past seven seasons.
However, Bullets assistant coach Peter Mponda said despite the hype of the clash, his charges will take it as it is, saying his players know what to do at this crucial stage of the season.
“These games are hyped by the media out there, but as Bullets we are taking this game just like any other match as we know we have faced tougher teams before and I believe that we will take advantage of playing at our home ground,” Mponda said during a pre-match interview with Club media.
The People’s Team’s second in command was quick to put to rest suggestions that this is a must-win game for his players if they are to return the championship, saying plenty of games to play for, with eight games remaining for Bullets before wrapping up the season.
“I don’t think it’s a must-win game for us, even if we can draw, we can still go ahead and claim the championship and this is a marathon. We have plenty of games to play after Friday’s match. Of course we have to win in order to widen the gap between us and them,” highlighted Mponda.
Games involving the two sides have often lived up to their billing and they go into their eagerly-awaited encounter in the commercial city with not much separating them in the standings.
The Bankers, who have played a game more than Bullets, have 46 points from 22 games, a point ahead of Bullets, who can climb top if they claim full points this afternoon.
The two teams are not newcomers when it comes to title rivalry as they rustled for the championship in 2012, which was won by the Central Bankers despite finishing level on points, 58, but they had a superior goal difference than The People’s Team.
But since 2013, the Area 47 side have not given Bullets a tough time when it comes to the championship race.
For the past six seasons, the current defending champions have won it four times and the only time they gave away the title was in 2016 and 2017 but they have been dominating on the local scene whilst Silver Strikers haven’t won the title in more the seven seasons now.
However, Friday’s math will separate boys from men. Both teams have invested heavily in the transfer market and are the favorites to fight for the title till the end of the season.
TEAM NEWS
Bullets have no injury concerns ahead of the match. The People’s Team will be welcoming back Hassan Kajoke who was away for the past three weeks on trials in South Africa.
In the current season, Bullets have won 13 games from which six have ended in draws, with two defeats and they have scored 39 goals against 12.
Kajoke is Bullets’ current top goal scorer with 10 goals, two behind Silver Strikers’ Maxwell Gasten who has bagged in 12.
PREVIOUS GAMES
2013 Season
Silver Strikers 3-1 Nyasa Big Bullets
Nyasa Big Bullets 1-1 Silver Strikers
2014 Season
Nyasa Big Bullets 2-2 Silver Strikers
Silver Strikers 1-2 Nyasa Big Bullets
2015 Season
Nyasa Big Bullets 2-0 Silver Strikers
Silver Strikers 1-2 Nyasa Big Bullets
2016 Season
Silver Strikers 1-1 Nyasa Big Bullets
Nyasa Big Bullets 2-1 Silver Strikers
2017 Season
Nyasa Big Bullets 1-1 Silver Strikers
Silver Strikers 2-1 Nyasa Big Bullets
2018 Season
Nyasa Big Bullets 1-1 Silver Strikers
Silver Strikers 0-0 Nyasa Big Bullets
2019 Season
Nyasa Big Bullets 3-1 Silver Strikers
Silver Strikers 0-1 Nyasa Big Bullets
2020/21 Season
Silver Strikers 1-0 Nyasa Big Bullets
