The Castel Challenge Cup defending champions have no time to rest as they travel to Dedza to face MMF Marine on Saturday afternoon at Dedza Stadium.
This is the last quarter-final match of the 2024 campaign, as Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, Panthers FC, and Mzuzu City Hammers have already advanced to the semifinals.
Bullets are coming straight from Mzuzu where they defeated Hilltop United to book a place in the last eight of the competition, which Kalisto Pasuwa’s men won the inaugural edition in 2023.
Eyeing a place in the semis after a hard-earned victory against the non-league side, Hilltop, Bullets must up their game to defuse the next opponents, who will be looking to defy all odds facing the title holders after they knocked out Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos to reach this stage.
FORM GUIDE
A win away in Mzuzu on Saturday means we are unbeaten in our last 17 games in all competitions.
The last time Bullets lost a game was in September against Bangwe All Stars in the TNM Super League and have had a remarkable run after that, including winning the Airtel Top 8 and securing a third-place finish in the league.
In the last six games, we have recorded four wins, beating FOMO FC, Karonga United and Kamuzu Barracks in the league before defeating Hilltop United 1-0 in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 16, and drew 0-0 and 2-2 against Silver Strikers and Civil Service United in the league, respectively.
MMF Marines, a second-tier side that plays in the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League, won 5-4 on penalties to eliminate TNM Super League side, Dedza from the Castel Challenge Cup following a goalless draw in regulation time.
The winner between Bullets and the Marines will face Mzuzu City Hammers in the semis at a venue to be announced by the Football Association of Malawi.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This will be the first-ever meeting between Pasuwa’s men and the Monkey Bay-based side.
TEAM NEWS
Pasuwa will welcome back Chikumbutso Salima and Maxwell Phodo, who missed the R16 tie against Hilltop due to injuries.
However, Yamikani Mologeni is still out as he nurses an injury he sustained during training a day before our game against Hilltop.
KICK-OFF TIME AND HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH
Our Castel Challenge Cup quarterfinal tie against MMF Marines at Dedza Stadium will kick off at 14h30.
Castel Challenge Cup games are not broadcasted on TV or steamed on FIFA+, but you can catch all live text updates on our Facebook and X (Twitter) channels.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Kondwani Kamwendo
Assistant Referee 1: Limbani John
Assistant Referee 2: Straus Magwaza
Fourth Official: Peter Jossam
Match Commissioner: Fredrick Bizale
