FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Kalisto Pasuwa believes the return of striker Hassan Kajoke will give his side a new dimension in attack while improving competition amongst his strikers.
Kajoke, who has 41 goals in the league since his promotion to the first team at the end of the 2018 season, missed three games in succession this campaign.
The forward was not available against Bangwe All Stars, Civil Service United and Red Lions due to an ankle injury he sustained during our 3-1 win over Moyale Barracks last month.
Kajoke has recovered and is available for selection away to Chitipa United on Saturday at Karonga Stadium.
The head coach believes Kajoke will boost his attacking options and offer good competition among Bullets forwards going into Matchweek 8 of the 2023 TNM Super League term.
“His return is very good competition in terms of our striking force. Yes, we have been scoring goals, but again, Kajoke can give us another type of play. Whenever he is playing, he gives us a new dimension.
“Remember he has been one of our top scorers in the last three seasons, and we really need him to continue helping the team. His full recovery is a massive boost for us in one of the busiest seasons ever,” he told Bullets Media in Karonga ahead of Saturday’s tie.
Bullets are up North for the first time this season to face a side that got back into the Super League at the start of the campaign following their relegation in the 2020/21 term.
The hosts started well in their return to elite football and are currently in fifth position in the standings with ten points, seven below The People’s Team, who top the standings with 17 points from the same seven games.
They will face Bullets highly motivated following their 1-0 away win to one of the title contenders, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
“[It’s] a very crucial game for us. I have always talked about how these so-called smaller teams raise their games against us and how they are confident after beating one of the best teams in Malawi, which means they will put in extra effort against us.
“We have been talking to the players to have the right sense of mind in order [for us] to grab all the points. Like all previous matches, this encounter will not be easy, but we need to step up and do the right thing,” Pasuwa commented on Saturday’s encounter.
“Like always, we need to be very careful, solid in defence and play with structure. We shouldn’t undermine them because we won last week [beating Red Lions 4-0]. This is another different game altogether, so the players should forget about last week’s match and focus on getting results over Chitipa.
“There are times where you would think you are playing a small team then you want to throw everyone behind the ball and you are caught in the counter and concede, so we need to be disciplined at the back and attack with caution and above all, no complacency,” he cautioned his charges.
The People’s Team had plenty of chances created last week but only four goals were scored and three legit goals were also denied by the first and second assistant referees for offside. But Pasuwa drew some positives saying the fact that his team created lots of goal-scoring chances indicates how good the team is now coming up.
“Definitely, [we are looking] very good in terms of how we are attacking in the final third, something positive from my boys. But we are playing on a very hard surface, away from home, hence the need for us to be very careful when attacking.”
Bullets will be without the trio of Alick Lungu, Nickson Nyasulu and Gomezgani Chirwa due to injuries and illness, whilst midfielder Mike Mkwate has recovered from his viral infection and is part of the travelling squad.
The defending champions have also never lost any game to Chitipa United in the few meetings between the two sides.
The last visit of Bullets at Karonga Stadium against Saturday’s opponents saw Pasuwa’s charges walking away with three points following a 2-0 win courtesy of first-half strikes from Kajoke and Mkwate.
