The stage is set. On Saturday afternoon, we visit Area 47 for our TNM Super League clash against log leaders Silver Strikers.
It’s the first time in two seasons that FCB Nyasa Big Bullets will play at Silver Stadium.
We last played at the venue in the 2020/21 season in the FDH Bank Cup, losing 4-2 on penalties. Since then, Bingu National Stadium has hosted our meetings against the Central Bankers.
This is an important fixture for the defending champions to win to reduce the 13-point gap against Peter Mponda’s men as the championship race has reached a boiling point.
However, it’s a huge task for Kalisto Pasuwa’s charges, who face the only unbeaten side in the current campaign and the undisputed leaders running away with the title.
FORM GUIDE
The defending champions are unbeaten in the last 13 games across all competitions. Bullets are coming from a 5-0 win over Changalume Barracks in the Castel Challenge Cup Round of 32 at Mpira Stadium on Wednesday.
Before the midweek victory, The People’s Team had a successful 1-0 outing against the Central Bankers in the Airtel Top 8 final. We also hammered Mighty Tigers 3-0 in the last league match before the international break.
The 2023 quadruple winners are sitting third in the standings with 44 points, 13 points behind Saturday’s opposition. This is the lowest point mark for Pasuwa’s charges in a decade after playing 25 games.
Our opponents are flying high in the league. They are only looking for nine points in their remaining five games to win the championship for the first time in 11 years.
With 57 points from 25 games, Mponda’s side has already surpassed the 53-point mark they set when they won the league in 2013. Last season, they finished as runners-up to Bullets with 57 points.
They go into this match on the back of a convincing 6-1 win over Mafco FC on Wednesday, a result that extended their unbeaten run in the league.
However, they haven’t done well in cup games this season as they were knocked out of the FDH Bank Cup, Castel Challenge Cup, and recently, losing the Airtel Top 8 Cup final to Bullets.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
In the last 21 meetings, Bullets have had eight wins against Silver’s four since 2013. The last league victory for Bullets came in the 2022 season at Kamuzu Stadium, where we scored in the opening 23 minutes to hammer the Bankers 3-1.
Bullets’ most victories over Silver since 2021 are in cup games.
Pasuwa’s men won 5-4 on penalties in the Airtel Top 8 final in 2021. Last season we won 3-1 in the semis of the same competition and 4-2 in the Castel Challenge Cup.
This year, we were 7-6 winners as we defended the Charity Shield for a sixth successive time at the start of this term. A fortnight ago, Bullets won 1-0 to defend the Airtel Top 8 Cup.
Silver’s last victory over Bullets came in June this year when Chinsisi Maonga scored late in the second half to secure a 1-0 win. It was their first victory since 2021 when Maxwell Phodo, now with The People’s Team, scored late to win the hosts all three points at Silver Stadium.
We meet again on Saturday afternoon when the defending champions desperately need all three points. Any negative result will officially end our hopes of winning the league title for a sixth successive year.
TEAM NEWS
Chrispin Mapemba, who was forced out due to an injury during the Airtel Top 8 final against the Central Bankers at the Bingu National Stadium, continues with his recovery after he also missed Wednesday’s Castel Challenge tie against Changalume Barracks.
Pasuwa will welcome back Babatunde Adepoju to TNM Super League action after our top scorer missed the last league match against Tigers due to suspension.
Richard Chimbamba, captain Gomegzani Chirwa, Nickson Nyasulu, Alick Lungu, Yankho Singo and Lloyd Aaron are all available for selection. They were rested during the midweek cup game following their return from national duties. They were part of Malawi’s squad that drew 0-0 against Burundi and won 3-0 over Burkina Faso.
KICK-OFF TIME AND HOW TO WATCH THE MATCH
Following the change of kick-off time for all Super League of Malawi matches from 15h00, our clash with Silver Strikers at Area 47 is scheduled for 14h30.
You can catch all the action live on Mpira TV and MBC TV. It will also be streamed on FIFA+. You can also catch all the match updates on our Facebook and X (Twitter) channels.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Easter Zimba
Assistant Referee 1: Lameck Phiri
Assistant Referee 2: Pearson Kamanga
Fourth Official: Macloud Dickson
