Bullets host Ekhaya: Why is it one of most famous fixtures in Malawi?

Ekhaya Football Club, barely 10 months old in the elite league, face FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, a 39-year-old institution, yet this has become one of the most compelling fixtures in Malawian football. The intrigue lies not in the age gap, but in the invisible threads that bind these two clubs together.

The drama began before a ball was even kicked. Bullets, chasing the championship, find themselves hosting Ekhaya at the Mpira Stadium—not their preferred Kamuzu Stadium home ground. They formally protested to the Super League of Malawi, requesting a venue change, but the league governing body stood firm and dismissed the complaint.

The timing couldn’t be more crucial. Like in the first round, Ekhaya face the traditional big three teams in three consecutive matches—Mighty Wanderers, Silver Strikers, and now Bullets this afternoon. The Cowboys lost to all three giants in the first round. Will history repeat itself, or can they finally claim scalps against Malawi’s elite?

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Bullets arrive at this fixture battle-weary from four consecutive away matches—two in the Central Region and two in the South. The results tell a story of inconsistency: they beat Kamuzu Barracks 2-0, lost to Creck Sporting Club 2-0, defeated Karonga United 2-0, then fell to Moyale Barracks 2-0. Half the required points won, half lost.

Those defeats to Creck and Moyale have been morale-sapping. The championship race is no longer in their hands. They must now rely heavily on Civil Service United, Moyale Barracks, and Kamuzu Barracks to do them favours. Should Wanderers win their remaining matches, they will walk into the trophy room unchallenged.

For Bullets to maintain even technical chances of staying in the race, victory against Ekhaya is non-negotiable. But this is no ordinary game.

What elevates this fixture from routine to remarkable is the web of connections between the two clubs. Enos Chatama, now Ekhaya’s head coach, holds a special place in his heart for Bullets—it’s where he proved himself as a man of immense potential and a valuable asset to Malawian football.

Chatama spent seven seasons at Bullets grooming young talent as head of the Reserve team. His first crop of graduates—Chimwemwe Idana, Hassan Kajoke, and Charles Petro—broke into the first team and set a precedent. Many others followed, forming the backbone of future Bullets squads.

In the current Bullets lineup, Yankho Singo, Frank Willard, Aaron Chilipa, Chikumbutso Salima, Yamikani Mologeni, Hassan Kajoke, and Edward Thengo, among others, are all Chatama’s products. But as with any ambitious coach, there comes a time to explore new opportunities.

After winning the Southern Region League multiple times, Chatama joined Ekhaya as head coach—and brought several of his star pupils from Bullets Reserve with him. Roughly half the Ekhaya squad, if we’re being generous with numbers, have Bullets DNA.

This shared lineage makes the fixture more than a contest of tactics—it’s a philosophical clash between two sides who play similar brands of football, shaped by the same teacher.

Previous Encounters: Narrow Margins

The two sides have met twice in all competitions—once in the preseason tournament and once in the first round of the league. Both encounters were decided by the slimmest of margins: 1-0 victories for Bullets. The pattern suggests that when these teams meet, the margins are always tight, the football always compelling.

For Bullets: Currently second on the log table with 59 points, they need Wanderers to drop points against Civil Service United at the Kamuzu Stadium this afternoon while securing all three points against Ekhaya. Only then can they harbor realistic hopes of reclaiming the title they lost to Silver Strikers last year.

For Ekhaya: Sitting seventh with 39 points, they’ve already exceeded their primary objective of avoiding relegation. Now they’re hunting for a place in next year’s Airtel Top 8 Cup. The Blantyre-based side has already broken Bangwe All Stars’ record as the newly promoted club with the most wins in their debut season—12 victories compared to Bangwe’s 11 in 2023 and Creck’s 10 in 2024.

But there’s another record in their sights: most points collected by a newly promoted team. Dedza Dynamos recorded 42 in 2022, Bangwe matched it with 42 in 2023, and Creck equaled it with 42 in 2024. Any win in their next three matches will see Ekhaya match that record; anything more will see them break it.

Home Advantage—Or Is It?

Ekhaya visit a team that has dominated local football for the past decade—a milestone they aspire to in their own future. Bullets have won 10 of their 13 home matches at Kamuzu Stadium this season. Can they maintain that impressive home form despite playing at Mpira? The answer awaits at the final whistle.

The statistics tell a revealing story. Of the 54 goals Bullets have scored this season, 38 came at home and just 16 away. They’ve conceded 12 at home and 8 away. Of their 13 home games, Bullets have kept 7 clean sheets; in 14 away games, they’ve managed 9.

Recent form, however, paints a less flattering picture. In their last seven matches, Bullets have lost three, won three, and drawn once. Defeats to Mighty Wanderers, Creck Sporting, and Moyale are offset by victories over Civil Service United, Kamuzu Barracks, and Karonga United, plus a draw against Blue Eagles. Their defensive solidity has wavered—they’ve shipped 20 goals so far this season.

They’re facing their juniors, but form and sentiment rarely align on match day.

The Away Day Challenge

Ekhaya have won just three of their 12 away games this season and will be hunting for a fourth victory on the road. They’ve lost seven away matches and drawn two. Their home form is far superior—9 wins from 15 matches, with 5 losses and a draw.

On the road, Ekhaya have conceded at least one goal in 10 of their 13 away games, keeping just three clean sheets. They’ve shipped 12 goals away from home compared to 9 at home—a vulnerability Bullets will look to exploit.

The list of Ekhaya players who once wore the red of Bullets reads like a reserve team roll call: Happy Mphepo, Andrew Lameck, Emmanuel Saviel, Alick Lungu, Wongani Kaponya, Kesten Simbi, and Innocent Wadada Msowoya all have Bullets pedigree, some having even featured for the first team. Ekhaya versus Bullets is truly an affair of clubs with common roots.

Chatama: “We Are Ready”

Speaking ahead of the match, Enos Chatama faces his former bosses with quiet confidence. He once harbored hopes of coaching Bullets’ main team, but fate had other plans. He’s already proven himself a top-class coach.

“It was not a true reflection of our capabilities, the game against Silver Strikers,” Chatama reflected. “We played good football, created numerous chances. I believe if we convert those opportunities against Bullets, the result will be different.

“We expect a tough game. Bullets are chasing the title, but that doesn’t mean they cannot be defeated—any team can be beaten on any given day. We are ready to face them.

“We are playing good football against the top three, creating chances. It’s just a matter of converting them into goals, and that has been our biggest challenge against these elite teams. But one day, we will score, defend well, and win these games. We cannot keep losing forever.”

Ekhaya’s approach against Bullets and Wanderers has differed markedly from their matches against other teams, including Silver Strikers. Against Silver, there was a small gap in quality as they played expansive football. Against Bullets and Wanderers, they’ve sat deeper, absorbed pressure, and looked to hit on the break. Expect the same tactical mindset this afternoon.

In the first round, it was Babatunde Adepoju’s header that snatched the winner for Bullets. Can Ekhaya rewrite the script this time?

Chirwa’s Apology Must Be Answered on the Pitch

After the defeat to Moyale Barracks in their last outing—their sixth loss of the season—Assistant Coach Gilbert Chirwa offered an apologetic post-match interview. It’s been a season of mixed emotions for Bullets: 19 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws. Falling down doesn’t define you; how you respond does.

Bullets have appeared nervous when playing away recently, and while they remain sharp in attack, they’ve been porous at the back, conceding four goals in their last three away matches. The defensive frailties are concerning—20 goals conceded so far is well below their usual standards.

Blessings Mpokera will miss his fourth consecutive game through injury, while Crispin Mapemba faces a late fitness test. Bullets’ defensive vulnerabilities will be tested against an Ekhaya side hungry to prove they belong among Malawi’s elite.