After nearly a month away from home, Bullets are set for a highly anticipated return to Kamuzu Stadium this Sunday afternoon, hosting Chitipa United in the TNM Super League.
This fixture follows our recent encounter at Dedza Stadium last Wednesday, where we clinched our first-ever league triumph against Dedza Dynamos on their home turf.
Before we line up against Chitipa, here’s a comprehensive look ahead to our next challenge.
FORM GUIDE
Under Peter Mponda’s stewardship, The People’s Team has delivered impressive results, notching two consecutive away wins across all competitions.
Prior to the brief international break, we travelled to Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe for the decisive second-leg quarterfinal of the Airtel Top 8 Cup against Crerk Sporting Club. With a goalless draw in the first leg, everything was on the line—and we rose to the occasion. Maxwell Phodo’s solitary goal powered Mponda’s side to a gritty 1-0 victory over Joseph Kamwendo’s squad, booking our place in the semifinals of the knockout tournament.
A week-long pause ensued due to the Malawi National Football Team’s back-to-back CHAN qualifiers against South Africa—a campaign that ended in defeat and saw them miss out on a place at the finals later this year.
After the break, we traveled to Dedza—a venue long considered a fortress, as we had yet to win there since 2012. Driven to rewrite history, Bullets overcame the hoodoo with a late winner from Chikumbutso Salima, sealing our first league victory at the ground and continuing our flawless start to the 2025 season.
Our next opponents, Chitipa United, have experienced an inconsistent start, securing one win, two draws, and two losses in their opening five fixtures. With five points, they currently sit 13th on the table.
Their season began with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mafco FC through a Yohane Malunga goal, followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Silver Strikers—Alex Benson putting them ahead, with the visitors then bagging a brace, before Joseph Mbaga salvaged a draw.
The Lions of Fort Hill registered their sole win so far against Ekhaya FC, courtesy of Mbaga’s first-half strike. However, their momentum was halted by a 2-0 loss to Dedza Dynamos, with Frank Sanudi netting both goals in the second half.
Chitipa’s latest outing yielded a 1-1 tie with Civil Service United; Ramson Sukali’s goal cancelled out Chifundo Damba’s earlier effort.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sunday’s clash will mark the tenth meeting between Bullets and Chitipa. We have the upper hand historically, winning seven, drawing one, and losing just one. Chitipa United’s sole victory came at Karonga Stadium during the 2023 season, courtesy of an own goal from Collins Okumu.
Despite that win, Chitipa United have largely struggled against The People’s Team. In 2017, they suffered a 1-0 home defeat and then fell 2-0 in the return leg at Chilomoni Stadium, a season that ultimately ended in their relegation.
They spent 2018 competing in the Northern Region Premier Division League before regaining promotion at the start of 2019. That season, Chitipa mounted a spirited comeback to earn a 2-2 draw at Kamuzu Stadium but later succumbed to a 3-0 loss at Karonga in the reverse fixture.
During the COVID-impacted 2020/21 campaign, Bullets completed a double—securing 2-0 victories both in Karonga and Blantyre.
The teams didn’t face each other in 2022, as Chitipa had been relegated back to the Northern Region Football League.
In 2023, Chitipa edged us 1-0 at Karonga but the Bullets responded with a 2-0 win at home in the second round.
Last season, we triumphed 3-0 at Karonga Stadium and followed with a 4-2 win in the final round at Kamuzu Stadium.
Our cup encounters have been equally decisive in our favour: a 5-0 victory in the 2018 FISD Challenge Cup and a 2-0 triumph in the 2022 FDH Bank Cup at Rumphi Stadium. We went on to win the trophy, overcoming our junior team with a 3-1 scoreline in the final.
TEAM UPDATE
As Peter Banda and Chrispin Mapemba continue their recovery from long-term injuries, the squad otherwise remains fully fit, with no fresh injury worries heading into Sunday’s fixture.
MPONDA’S PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
“It will be a tough game. Chitipa United’s playing style tends to trouble us, and with the match at Kamuzu Stadium, we expect them to be challenging opponents. Nevertheless, I believe with the hunger that my players have we will get the result..”
KICK-OFF TIME AND HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH
Sunday’s clash with Chitipa United kicks off at 14:30. Fans can catch the action live via FIFA+, with instant updates provided on our official Facebook and X (Twitter) channels.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Honest Maulana will officiate Sunday’s game—his first time overseeing a Bullets match—after being promoted to the elite referee panel for the 2025 season by the Football Association of Malawi Referees Standing Committee earlier this year.
Referee: Honest Maulana
Assistant Ref: Bernadettar Kwimbira
Assistant Ref: Siyame Chitambo
Fourth Official: Benson Subiri
Match Assessor: Samson Banda
