Bullets, Wanderers in Charity Shield battle

By Antony Isaiah Jr………

Two Blantyre giants, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets are this afternoon renewing their rivalry at Bingu National Stadium as they will be battling in out for the 2023 Charity Shield Cup.

It is an epic battle between the two expatriate Coaches, Bullets’ Calisto Pasuwa and Wanderers’ Mark Harrison as they are looking to build momentum in their teams before the Super League rolls out the next weekend.

Super League Champions, Nyasa Big Bullets are welcoming the Airtel Top-8 Cup winners, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers who are chasing their first win over their neighbours in the competition and winning the trophy for the first time since its inception in 2016.

An annual football Competition was introduced in 2016 and it kicks off the Football Calendar in Malawi and FAM introduced it as its flagship corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program which aims at mobilizing the football fraternity and the public to raise funds and awareness towards a charitable cause of national significance.

The Nomads have been awful in the competition, losing twice to their neighbours in 2016 and 2019 and they haven’t won it in three attempts.

Nyasa Big Bullets mate their arch rivals Be Forward Wanderers in the inaugural showpiece in 2016. The match took place on Saturday April 9. Bullets qualified as League Champions while Wanderers made it as National Cup (Carlsberg Cup) Champions.
Bullets won the match 2-0 with goals from Muhamad Sulumba and Chiukepo Msowoya

As the competition was changed to a two-day event, Mighty Wanderers was paired with Silver Strikers while Bullets faced Kamuzu Barracks. Wanderers lost to the Bankers while Bullets beat KB before Silver Strikers to win it.

In 2019, the Shield also brought together four teams, TNM Super League Champions Nyasa Big Bullets, Fisd Challenge Cup winners Be Forward Wanderers, Airtel Top 8 Tournament champions Blue Eagles and Carlsberg Cup victors Masters Security FC.

Wanderers hammered Masters Security 4-0 with goals from Babatunde Adepoju, Francis Mlimbika and Mike Kaziputa while Bullets got the better of Blue Eagles.

Chiukepo Msowoya’s lone strike in the final gave Bullets the much-needed boost ahead of the season kick off.

The proceedings to be realised from the will be donated to the Cyclone Freddy Victims in the Southern Region of Malawi, as the Football Association of Malawi announced.

Mark targets quadruple

Being his first full season, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Head Coach, Mark Simon Harrison has revealed his targets this season.

After winning the Airtel Top-8 Cup in his first two months at the helm since replacing fired Alex Ngwira, Mark is eager to win all the four trophies this season domestically.

Speaking ahead of the mouth-watering game against their arch rivals, Mark said they will need to start their season today because the team has assembled the best squad.

Wanderers during the transfer window, signed seven players and they said that they have signed all their targets. Lawrence Chaziya, Christopher Kumwembe, Gaddie Chirwa, Mphatso Kamanga are some of the new recruits.

“Domestically we have the Championship, we have the FDH Cup as well as Airtel Top 8 and obviously when we kick off the idea is to win all three.

“We are up for the game, we are looking forward to it we know it’s gonna be a tough game as it’s the derby but it will give us good preparation for the kick off of League the following week which in due respect is more important.

“We are ready for the Charity Shield. We have a good squad and the new players are adapting to our Club philosophy. I have urged the players to perfom and if they can perfom, results will follow,” said Harrison.

Stanley Sanudi who accompanied the Coach to the presser said he has encouraged his fellow players to believe that can do it.

He said, “It will be a great game. I have encouraged my fellow players to believe in themselves and give our supporters the much needed victory. We have done it before and we can do it again on Sunday.”

If you put anything in front of Wanderers, they will grab it

Kalisto Pasuwa speaking to NBB Media ahead of the game has praised Mighty Mukuru Wanderers saying they are a good side that fight for success.

Pasuwa said if Wanderers have things in front of them, they often grab it hence need his charges to concentrate.

“Wanderers [are] good opponents, a team which has been starving for results. If you put anything in front of them, they will grab it. [They are] meeting us again for the third time, last time we played them in a cup match, you could see immaturity in our players where when we were taking penalties some of the youngsters were running away and I had some of the senior guys who were chickening out when I thought they could lead by example as seniors and this is something that needs to be addressed. We lost on penalties, but I think this time around, everyone is geared up for the game and we will see how it goes,” he said.

Team News

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets are going into the match without their three key players due to injury and fitness issue.

Pasuwa revealed that Gomezgani Chirwa, Precious Sambani and Hassan Kajoke will not be in the squad for the game.

However, all the new faces are available for selection including Mike Mkwate.

He said, “We have Precious Sambani and Gomezgani Chirwa who are still out due to the injuries sustained during the national team engagements. We also have Kajoke who is still in pre-season after he came back. He is still in pre-season until he finishes and we submit him to the team.”

On the other hand, Mark Harrison named a 23-man squad available for selection which sees the competition’s top goal-scorer, Chiukepo Yakubu Msowoya returning after sustaining an injury during National team duties.