“Exploiting spaces,” Mponda explains how Silver can tame “physical” Mafco FC

Basking in euphoria, Silver Strikers are bathed in conjecture after a positive start to their 2024 season. In 2022, they had four points from their opening three games, losing to Red Lions, drawing against Civil Service United, and beating Rumphi United.

Last season, as of week three, the Bankers who were soaring under Pieter De Jongh had seven points, the same as this season. However, the difference is that this season, they have a belief that this could be their year of glory.

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The Central Bankers are back at home in their third game playing on their turf after overcoming Chitipa United and Bangwe All Stars’ resilience. Mafco FC are looking to get their season up and running as they are winless in their opening three games, losing to Moyale Barracks and drawing against Baka City and Kamuzu Barracks.

The Salima-based Soldiers are one of the teams in the league that play a physical game and Mponda said he already has plans in place to overpower them and continue with their dream start.

“I know that we can match them physically but in terms of tactical and how we want to exploit the spaces, we have talked to the boys and they know what to do. We know what to expect from them, I know that they [Mafco] play a passing game. If we press them well, we can get quick goals and we can unsettle them,” said Mponda.

The Area 47-based side sits second on the table, level on points with Mighty Mukuru Wanderers with only goal difference separating them while Mafco are fourth from the bottom with just two points from three games.

Players’ mentality excites Mponda

Peter Mponda was impressed by the mentality of his players at Dedza Stadium after trailing for the first time in the elite league this season when Victor Lungu put the hosts in front. The Bankers battled back to earn a point in the second half as Charles Chipala stunned his former team.

“The boys mentally are very strong, because they can withstand the pressure. After failing to get the goal in the first half, they play in the same way, so this is a positive from our boys,” Peter Mponda tells the Club’s Media.

Mafco FC are going into Saturday’s fixture carrying just one win from their last five games, drawing twice but they have lost just one game while Silver Strikers are undefeated in their five games, winning three and drawing twice.

Silver Strikers have been bossing the fixture, losing just one in their last 10 meetings when they suffered a 3-1 defeat in Chitowe in July 2022, winning seven games and drawing twice.

However, Mafco FC recorded a historical win last season when they booted Silver out of the Airtel Top 8 Cup, in a season where the Soldiers played two cup finals before losing to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.

Mponda knows the threat that Mafco can pose but playing at home gives him confidence that they can chalk full points this afternoon.

“We are very much prepared for the game knowing that Mafco FC are a good team. Remember that they beat us last season for us to fail to play in two Cup finals.

“We know how good they are, a very good team but we are playing at home, we need to collect maximum points,” he added.

Left-back, Tatenda M’balaka is expected to be in the squad after recovering from his injury while Atusaye Nyondo returns too. Mponda is going to miss the services of Gift Chunga, Christopher Gototo, and Duncan Nyoni who have been sidelined due to injuries.