Reds coach says they are in Blantyre for a win

By Antony Isaiah Jr:

Red Lions Head Coach, Mike Kumanga said his team is in the commercial City, Blantyre for a win for them to remain in the League.

Red Lions are coming from a 2-0 collapse to Blue Eagles on Sunday at Nankha ground cordiality of Christopher Gototo and Gilbert Chirwa’s strikes and they are on number 13 with 25 points from 24 games.

The Zomba-based soldiers have won only one game [Sable Farming] in their last seven games, losing four against Kamuzu Barracks, Silver Strikers, Mafco FC and Blue Eagles, sharing spoils with Ekwendeni Hammers and Mighty Waka Waka Tigers.

Red Lions have scored 22 goals, conceding 20 this season and they are in the top 5 teams that have loopholes in the defence department, behind Rumphi United, (52), TN Stars (52), Mighty Tigers (32) and Ekwendeni Hammers (32) in that order.

However, facing one of the teams with lethal players and strong defence, Nyasa Big Bullets, Mike Kumanga is confident that his charges can pull a surprise in Blantyre, echoing Kalisto Pasuwa’s [Bullets’ head coach] sentiment.

“Am sure that we are going to win this game. Our preparations have gone well. The way our players are training, am sure that everything is possible. What we want is to maintain our spot in the Super League,” said Kumanga.

With just 7 points above the relegation zone, Red Lions tactician said the battle is not over until it is over.

“What I can say is that minus that game [against Bullets], we will remain with 5 games. The battle is not over until it is over. We need to put extra gear and what I can say is that what we want tomorrow is victory,” added Kumanga.

The game between the two teams is one of the biggest fixtures in the domestic football.

However, Nyasa Big Bullets have been on top of Red Lions for the past decade as the Red Soldiers have only managed one win in that time frame.

Red Lions last beat Nyasa Big Bullets in 2013 when they recorded a victory in fiv-goal thriller. Pearson Panje, Kumbukani Mwambene and Innocent Bokosi scored for Red Lions while Diverson Mlozi and Chimango Kaira’s strikes were not enough to salvage a point for the people’s team on November 17, 2013.

In the last 32 outings between two sides, Nyasa Big Bullets have won 18 times, Red Lions 3 times while 11 games ended in stalemate.

In the first round, the fixture favoured Nyasa Big Bullets after emerging 2-0 victorious thanks to Chimwemwe Idana and Babatunde Adepoju’s strikes.

For the past two years, Bullets failed to complete a double over Lions.