The first international break of the 2023 season is upon us. While the TNM Super League campaign is on pause to accommodate the senior Malawi national team’s engagement in the Afcon qualifiers, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will still be involved this weekend.
Our first men’s team will travel to Lilongwe to play in the Castel Challenge Cup launch match as the reserves have a ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League game and the youth team is set to start their FCB U-19 League campaign.
There will be no action for the women’s team as they continue preparing for the FAM Women’s Football Southern Region League.
We look at what’s coming for the Bullets family this week…
First team
After a convincing 4-1 hammering of Ekwendeni Hammers on Saturday in the TNM Super League, Kalisto Pasuwa’s men this week be back on the road to the capital to face Silver Strikers in a ceremonial match to mark the launch of the Castel Challenge Cup at the Bingu National Stadium on Saturday.
It will be the third meeting between the top-of-the-table teams in the current season after facing off in the TNM Super League opener in April when they shared the points following a 1-1 draw, before another encounter on Kamuzu Day when Bullets triumphed 1-0.
Saturday’s tie should allow Pasuwa to give game time to most of his rarely used players this season as he hopes to see them contribute to what is likely to be a busy and long football spell with The People’s Team involved in the TNM Super League, FDH Bank Cup, CAF Champions League, Castel Challenge Cup and the Airtel Top 8.
Reserves
Enos Chatama’s boys have had a mixed start to their title defence in the ThumbsUp SRFA League as they were held to a goalless draw by Changalume Barracks on Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium, a result which saw them surrendering their top position to Mulanje-based FOMO FC.
Currently with 12 points, one behind FOMO, our reserves now switch focus to their seventh game of the campaign when they travel to face Tigers Reserves at Mpira Stadium on Saturday as they look to bounce back from Sunday’s frustrating draw with the aim of reclaiming the top of the standings.
Sunday’s result was Chatama’s second draw at home after dropping points against Ntopwa following a 1-1 stalemate a fortnight ago, something that hasn’t happened in more than five seasons as our reserves made Kamuzu Stadium a fortress.
Youth
Autry Kalulu’s youngsters return to the field of play for the first time since winning their first silverware a month ago as they now target the FCB Under-19 League which kicks off this weekend.
The young Bullets, who are in group A, begin their campaign with an exciting fixture against Nyambadwe United at Chilomoni Stadium on Sunday.
Our youngsters have never won this major youth cup and they will be looking forward to ending this drought this season as they start the campaign oozing with confidence after defeating Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Youth to win the African Herbal Mixture Cup in April.
Women
Maggie Chombo’s ladies are still fine-tuning ahead of the Southern Region Women’s Football League season and will continue training until the new season kicks off on a date yet to be announced by the Football Association of Malawi.
