FCB Nyasa Big Bullets continue their TNM Super League title chase with a midweek home fixture against Kamuzu Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The defending champions, eyeing a fifth successive league championship, will seek to collect all three points to stay clear of fellow title contenders as the race rages.
But, in the hunt for all the points on Wednesday we have to face a side that we have failed to beat in the last two meetings, and with five games remaining for KB to wrap up the season, a top-four battle will make this match very interesting.
Before the showdown, let’s have a look at how Alick Chirwa’s side has fared in the 2023 season…
Kamuzu Barracks had a difficult start to this campaign, from which they only registered three wins in their first nine league matches, before they picked up in the early stages of the second round, accumulating more points and moving into the top eight of the table.
In their last five games, before travelling to Blantyre this week, the Lilongwe-based Malawi Defence Force side have had four wins and one draw, collecting 12 points from the possible 15 and they moved up into the fifth position in the standings.
They registered a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Moyale Barracks before playing out to a 1-1 stalemate away to Wanderers.
KB then hosted Ekwendeni Hammers, in which they collected all the points courtesy of a lone strike from Olson Kanjira.
Kanjira scored a brace to inspire them to a comfortable 2-0 win over Chitipa United in their next encounter before they travelled to Blantyre where they were held to a 1-1 draw to Bangwe All Stars.
Their last league match saw them beat Red Lions 2-0 at Balaka Stadium.
However, they were eliminated from the Airtel Top 8 Cup by Mafco FC on away goals rule after they were held 1-1 at home following a goalless first leg.
KB’s form away to Southern Region-based teams this season
The 2016 league winners have had a remarkable run of results in the current season against Southern Region sides, winning twice against Mighty Tigers and Red Lions, and drawing twice against Wanderers and Bangwe All Stars.
This means Kamuzu Barracks have not lost any match at Kamuzu Stadium, Mpira Stadium and Balaka Stadium this season.
They were 1-0 winners over Tigers in Chiwembe before recording a 1-1 draw against Bangwe at the same venue.
They also forced Wanderers to a 1-1 stalemate at Kamuzu Stadium before beating Red Lions 2-0 in Balaka.
Last season, they forced us to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home.
Players to watch
Olson Kanjira is probably their dangerous man on the field of play. The forward has netted five goals in the last seven matches, and he is their current top scorer with six goals, seconded by Gregory Nachipo, who has five goals.
Chimwemwe Chisambi is their third scorer with three goals to his name.
In the top five, they are the lowest-scoring team with 26 goals and they are also the second-highest conceding top-five team with 17 goals behind Chitipa United who have let in 22 goals against 27 goals scored in the current campaign.
Their attacking threats
KB have a height advantage through their attacking players. At times, they use secondary balls to capitalize on their aerial abilities. The likes of Kelvin Hang’anda and Kanjira are good at scoring goals through dead-ball situations.
They also have Patrick Banda in the midfield who is good at what he does. The former Ekwendeni Hammers defending midfielder controls the midfield by winning duels, and he is also good at recoveries whenever they are not in possession.
Wednesday’s opponents are a team that doesn’t sit back. They build from the back and go in the offensive zones.
Injuries and suspensions
They will be without Zeliat Nkhoma, who was red-carded during their last game against Red Lions.
Currently, Chirwa has no injury concerns ahead of their trip to Blantyre.
