FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will kick off the second round of the TNM Super League with a trip to the far North, where they face Chitipa United at Chitipa Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
This will be the first time The People’s Team face Chitipa in their true backyard, as previous fixtures were staged at Karonga Stadium, 100 kilometres away.
It’s a must-win for Peter Mponda’s men, who trail league leaders Mighty Wanderers by just a point, but they come up against a resilient side boasting an eight-match unbeaten run, having conceded just once while scoring seven in the process.
FORM GUIDE
Bullets head into the match on the back of mixed results. Two successive league wins over Mzuzu City Hammers and Mafco FC were followed by a 3-3 draw with Karonga United at Kamuzu Stadium, a game in which The People’s Team surrendered a 3-1 lead.
Mponda’s men responded emphatically with a 5-0 thrashing of Chilumba Barracks in the FDH Bank Cup Round of 32 last weekend.
Currently, Bullets sit second on the log with 34 points from 15 games, just a point shy of archrivals Wanderers.
Chitipa, meanwhile, were knocked out of the FDH Bank Cup by Civil Service United in a penalty shootout, but their league form has been impressive.
Their last six fixtures include a 1-0 win over Blue Eagles, a 1-1 draw with Wanderers, three goalless stalemates against Creck Sporting Club, Karonga United and Mzuzu City Hammers, and a resounding 4-0 victory over Songwe Border United.
They are 9th in the standings with 19 points.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Saturday’s clash marks the 11th competitive meeting between the two sides. Bullets have dominated the fixture, with eight wins, one draw, and just one loss.
The last encounter at Kamuzu Stadium ended in a 3-0 victory for Bullets. At Chitipa’s former home, Karonga Stadium, the hosts managed their only win in 2023 via an own goal, but generally, The People’s Team have had the upper hand, including doubles in the 2017 and 2020/21 seasons.
COACH’S THOUGHTS
“I think two teams are fighting different battles. We are trying to get to the top of the table while our opponents are trying to run away from relegation. So both sides have different motivations. We are coming from a disappointing result, but we want to keep improving and keep going forward.” — Peter Mponda, Head Coach
TEAM NEWS
There are no fresh injury concerns for Bullets.
Defenders Blessings Mpokera and Andrew Jovinala, who missed the 5-0 win over Chilumba Barracks due to fitness issues, have since trained with the squad and are available for selection.
New signings Khumbo Banda and Bright Munthali will be looking to have more minutes after they both played in last weekend’s cup victory—Banda completing the full 90 minutes and Munthali coming on as a substitute.
MATCH DETAILS
Fixture: Chitipa vs Bullets
Competition: TNM Super League
Venue: Chitipa Stadium
Date: Saturday, 23 August 2025
Kick-off: 14:30 CAT
MATCH OFFICIALS
The Super League of Malawi has appointed Misheck Juba as referee for Saturday’s encounter. He will be assisted by Stammy Msukwa and Martin Kawoneka, with Edson Chagala Chirwa as the fourth official. Zuza Nyondo will serve as referee assessor.
With the second round kicking off, the appointed officials are set to oversee a clash expected to be tightly contested as Bullets face Chitipa in their backyard for the very first time.
Referee: Misheck Juba
Assistants: Stammy Msukwa & Martin Kawoneka
Fourth Official: Edson Chagala
Match Assessor: Zuza Nyondo
HOW TO FOLLOW
Supporters who cannot make the trip to Chitipa will still be able to follow the action live. The match will be broadcast on Mpira TV and streamed worldwide via FIFA+.
In addition, fans can keep up with the game in real time through our official digital platforms, with live updates posted on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram.
Once the final whistle is blown, a comprehensive match report will be available on nyasabigbullets.com. To relive the key moments, supporters can head to our YouTube channel, where full highlights from Chitipa Stadium will be uploaded.
