FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Peter Mponda has defended his controversial team selection decisions following last Sunday’s humiliating 3-0 defeat to Mighty Wanderers, while calling out supporters who criticized his players ahead of this weekend’s crucial FDH Bank Cup semifinal clash between the two rivals.
The heavy loss marked Bullets’ worst defeat to their fierce local rivals since 2010, sparking widespread criticism from sections of the club’s fanbase. Much of the controversy centered on Mponda’s decision to bench two key attacking players—league leading scorer Babatunde Adepoju, who has netted 12 goals this season, and the in-form Peter Banda, who had recently revived his career after recovering from injury.
Instead, Mponda opted to start with Hassan Kajoke and Ephraim Kondowe as his striking partnership, a decision that backfired spectacularly as Wanderers dominated proceedings at Kamuzu Stadium.
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“I Know My Players Better Than Anyone”
Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Blantyre ahead of Sunday’s semifinal rematch, Mponda was unapologetic about his selection choices, emphasizing that he is the one who works closely with the players on a daily basis.
“I don’t have to defend anything. I’m the one who spends time with the players—we spend maybe four hours or five hours training them. We know who is performing and who is not performing,” Mponda stated firmly. “So, in terms of selection, it all relies on me. Like I said, I take the responsibility because I’m the one who fielded the players.”
The coach went further, questioning the basis of the criticism from supporters who were not privy to what happens during training sessions.
“Those few supporters who are saying this and that player should have started, where did they see them?” he asked pointedly, suggesting that fans’ opinions were formed without the crucial insight that comes from observing players in training.
“Taking Responsibility While Protecting His Squad”
While Mponda accepted full responsibility for the defeat, he was quick to shield his players from the barrage of insults that followed the loss. The veteran coach expressed disappointment at the manner in which some Bullets supporters reacted to the result, particularly those who directed their anger toward individual players on social media and other platforms.
“From what I’m seeing in training, I’m very happy with their response. Maybe, the only thing which is making me sorry is the way some of our supporters behaved,” Mponda revealed. “I don’t think that it’s proper to be insulting the players because it’s me who selects players. If there is anything, I think they should come to me rather than talking to the players, because we will still need the players the following derby.”
His comments highlight the delicate balance coaches must strike between accepting criticism and protecting player morale, especially when a quick turnaround is required. With just days between the league defeat and the cup semifinal, maintaining squad confidence becomes paramount.
“Like in this incident, we lost last week, we will need the same players to come and perform for us this week,” Mponda emphasized, underscoring the importance of keeping his squad mentally strong for the upcoming challenge.
“Work Rate, Not Tactics, Cost Bullets the Derby”
In his post-mortem analysis of the 3-0 defeat, Mponda was candid about where his team fell short. Contrary to speculation that his tactical approach or team selection were the primary factors, the coach identified a more fundamental issue—work rate.
“Like I said, we lost to Wanderers not because of tactics, we lost because our friends were working harder than us,” Mponda explained. “So, I don’t think that we need to adjust anything, we don’t need to change anything. We just need to go there and play our normal football again like the way we have been playing throughout the season.”
This assessment suggests that Mponda believes the blueprint that has served Bullets well throughout the campaign remains sound, and that the derby defeat was an aberration caused by a lack of intensity rather than structural problems. His confidence in the team’s established style of play indicates that supporters shouldn’t expect wholesale changes for Sunday’s semifinal.
Both teams enter Sunday’s FDH Bank Cup semifinal with contrasting narratives and considerable motivation. For Bullets, the match represents an immediate opportunity for redemption following back-to-back league defeats to their rivals. For Wanderers, it’s a chance to complete a historic treble over Bullets and reach their first-ever FDH Bank Cup final.
The history books favor Bullets in cup competitions between these two sides. The People’s Team have won both previous FDH Bank Cup meetings with an aggregate score of 6-1—recording a comprehensive 4-0 victory in the 2022 semifinal and a 2-1 triumph in the round of 16 during the 2024 edition.
However, recent league form tells a different story. Wanderers have dominated the current league campaign head-to-head, winning both encounters with a combined 4-0 scoreline—1-0 in the first round and last Sunday’s emphatic 3-0 victory in the second round.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for both clubs. Bullets are chasing their fourth consecutive FDH Bank Cup final appearance, having reached the showpiece event in each of the last three years. During that run, they’ve won two finals, establishing themselves as the dominant force in the competition.
For Wanderers, Sunday represents uncharted territory. Despite their storied history and passionate fanbase, the Nomads have never reached an FDH Bank Cup final. A victory would not only end that drought but would also give them a chance to claim silverware while riding the momentum of their recent dominance over their bitter rivals.
The big question heading into Sunday’s semifinal is whether Mponda will stick to his guns or make changes to his starting XI. Will Adepoju, the league’s most prolific striker, be restored to the lineup? Will Banda, who has shown excellent form since returning from injury, get the nod this time?
Mponda’s comments suggest he may well field a similar team, banking on improved work rate and intensity rather than personnel changes. However, the coach may also feel that the quick turnaround offers a fresh opportunity to utilize players he rested for the league encounter, particularly if he had one eye on this cup semifinal all along.
What remains clear is that Mponda will make his decisions based on what he observes in training rather than public opinion. Whether that approach yields a different result on Sunday will determine if his defiant stance was vindicated or if the criticism intensifies.
As the two giants prepare to lock horns once again, the stage is set for a fascinating tactical and psychological battle. For Mponda and his Bullets side, it’s a chance to respond to adversity and prove that last Sunday was merely a blip. For Wanderers, it’s an opportunity to make history and prove their recent supremacy is no fluke
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