Kalisto Pasuwa spoke to club media ahead of our TNM Super League fixture against Silver Strikers on Saturday.
Our head coach discussed the opponents, the importance of the game, team news, and the need to break the Central Region jinx after failing to win any league game this season.
Below is the full transcript of Pasuwa’s pre-match interview.
On the approach to the game
It’s the same way that we approach all the games. Remember, we are one team every team targets. So, the same way we prepare ourselves [for every game] is the same way we will prepare for Silver Strikers. We will take the game as it comes so that we can collect maximum points. These are games that are close in terms of everything. It’s a possession team like ourselves, so we need one to be tactically good to get the points. So, I think it [should be] a team effort from everyone in the house. Remember last time, we lost from a set piece when they launched a counterattack, and we ended up conceding in the dying minutes. I also thought the boys learnt a lesson [after that defeat], and we will go out there having done our corrections [done].
On facing a side eyeing a league title after 10 years
A team that is currently playing very well, unbeaten in the league so far and also us coming to them with 13 points behind them in the standings, we will try our level best to do good in every department for us to take the points. We know it won’t be an easy game because they are a team to beat this season, and the points won’t come on a silver platter. But again, we need to prepare well and be on top of our game so that we walk out of the stadium with points.
On the importance of winning against Changalume midweek ahead of Saturday’s encounter
It’s a motivation for the boys, but again, we played on a waterlogged pitch due to the rain. Maybe we can expect these weather patterns even against Silver Strikers in Lilongwe, but again, to the boys and everyone in the house, [we have] to prepare for anything. If it’s raining, let’s adapt because this is a rainy season, and the players should wear boots that would suit the facility when it’s raining.
On breaking the Central Region jinx of not winning any league game this season
Our story as Bullets is to play and win games. So, if any result is coming, apart from winning, we can’t do anything about it. Of course, we can say we need to win, then at the end of the day, we get a different result. So, we should take what is coming in front of us and see how the season will end. It’s a call for concern, but again, that’s what football is all about. I think, like you said, we need to improve for us to try and get points.
