It’s one of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures of the campaign as second-placed Nyasa Big Bullets host bottom three side Mighty Tigers in the TNM Super League at Kamuzu Stadium this afternoon.
A win with more than two goals will take The People’s Team top of the table, level on points with leaders Silver Strikers, who dropped points on Saturday against Red Lions. The Bankers are top with 39 points and a 24-goal difference against Bullets’ 36 points and a 22-goal difference.
Kalisto Pasuwa’s men go into this afternoon’s clash on the back of an impressive 2-0 victory over Ekwendeni Hammers last week, whilst Trevor Kajawa’s side, currently 15th in the standings, is coming from a 1-0 defeat away to Civil Sporting Club.
Bullets won the first-round encounter away at Mpira Stadium courtesy of strikes from Yamikani Fodya and Zicco Mkanda, but Sunday’s match will likely be different as the visitors are fighting relegation and a victory over the defending champions is what they will be looking to ease the pressure.
Pasuwa during the week warned his boys not to undermine Tigers, a side he has described as “one of the good teams that plays good football with structure from the back, coming up in attack and playing in all phases of the game” in the elite league.
The People’s Team is one of the two teams that are yet to taste a defeat at home this season and go into this match with an eight-year unbeaten run in league match home in the league.
In 2018 season, Bullets collected six points from the two matches against the struggling Tigers, with back-to-back victories which saw them winning the title for the 13th time.
In 2019, Bullets came from behind to draw 1-1 at Kamuzu Stadium, before collecting three points in the second-round with a hard-fought 1-0 victory courtesy of Luke Chima’s strike at Mulanje Stadium.
A win for Bullets will surely take the championship race to another direction with plenty of matches coming ahead.
TEAM NEWS
Ernest Kakhobwe, Mike Mkwate and Precious Sambani are the first team players who are not available for selection for this encounter.
The Malawi goalkeeper has been out for two months now due to knee and ankle injuries and is waiting for MRI scan results he underwent on Friday.
Sambani is undergoing the same scanning today following a suspected knee ligament injury to his bone during last weekend’s tie with Ekwendeni, whilst midfielder Mkwate is having difficulties to play due to an injury he sustained at Nankhaka against Blue Eagles a fortnight ago.
The positive news however for Bullets is that Meshack Seleman and Mkanda have all been included in the squad to face Tigers. The duo faced late fitness test after Pasuwa had earlier reported that they were struggling and needed further assessment before this afternoon’s test.
Newly signed left-back Eric Kaonga, who captained Ekwendeni last Saturday before completing his move to The People’s Team earlier this week on a three-year deal, has also been included in the squad to play Tigers.
FORM GUIDE
Bullets have registered ten wins, two defeats and six draws from which 32 goals have been scored and conceded 10. In the three games of the second-round played so far, Pasuwa’s side has registered two wins and a draw, netting three goals and keeping three cleans sheet.
The Kau Kau boys have three wins, nine defeats and five draws so far this season, scoring 12 goals and conceding 21. They have played two games in this second-half of the campaign, registering one win and a loss.
TICKETS
The Matchday tickets are available at the Kamuzu Stadium as follows: Open Stands K2000, MBC Stand K3000, Covered Stands 5000, VIP Stand K7000.
KICK OFF
The game will Kick Off at 14:30PM
