Legacy, loyalty, and league glory: The Blantyre derby story as city divided into blue and red

In Blantyre, there are two kinds of people — those who bleed red and those who breathe blue. This weekend, the lines will be drawn once again as Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers face off in a derby that transcends mere competition.

The commercial capital will be split into two vibrant halves: one awash in red, the other in blue. Kamuzu Stadium, the battleground, will mirror this division as Mighty Wanderers FC host their arch-rivals FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the 77th league installment of the Blantyre Derby.

Geographically, Wanderers and Bullets are neighbors, but in terms of achievements, they are galaxies apart. However, heading into Saturday’s much-anticipated derby, past accolades will hold little sway.

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Regarded as Malawi’s most iconic football fixture, the derby arrives at a time when both teams have made strong starts to the season. The Nomads remain unbeaten, having dropped just two points after a late equalizer from Silver Strikers’ Chinsisi Maonga. Meanwhile, Bullets boast a perfect record, maintaining a 100% winning streak.

This derby is expected to be a clash crackling with tension and rich in history. Kamuzu Stadium will be alive with a sea of red and blue, drums pounding, and chants echoing through the stands—a special day in Malawi’s football calendar.

From the bustling streets of Ndirande to the buzzing minibuses of Limbe, the city has been humming with anticipation all week. Flags flutter from balconies, radios replay past glories, and banter spills from beer halls to barber shops. When Bullets and Wanderers collide, the nation pays attention.

The Blantyre Derby is rooted in decades of competition, passion, and unforgettable moments. Whether it’s Bullets’ dominant runs or Wanderers’ dramatic wins, each edition leaves an indelible mark on fans. Only the Bullets-Silver fixture boasts more league titles than the Blantyre Derby.

A win for Bullets will put them in the driver’s seat toward their 18th league title. Conversely, if the Nomads triumph, they’ll cut the gap to just two points with a game in hand. Currently, five points separate the two teams, with Peter Mponda’s side amassing 18 points from six games, while Bob Mpinganjira’s Wanderers have 13 points from five games.

Both clubs enter the tie with everything to prove. For Nyasa Big Bullets, it’s about asserting dominance and reminding the blue half who has ruled the TNM Super League in recent years.

For Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, it’s about shedding the “nearly men” tag and restoring old glory.

A derby steeped in legacy and divisions

The match itself will divide them, but once more, Bullets and Wanderers will unite to pay respect to the man regarded as the architect of the division, Yasin ‘Titch’ Osman, who passed away last month.

The two teams have jointly agreed to honor soccer legend the late Yasin Salim Osman during this Saturday’s highly anticipated Blantyre Derby at Kamuzu Stadium.

Wanderers’ brands and marketing manager Greyson Chapita said a portrait of the late Osman, who played for both teams and died 40 days ago while serving as the Nomads’ technical director, will be carried onto the pitch before kickoff.

That will be followed by a moment of silence at the center circle in his honor. “As a renowned architect of the Blantyre Derby, the late Osman deserves special recognition for his immense contribution to Malawian football,” said Chapita.

He added that they have extended a special invitation to members of the Osman family to watch the derby from the VIP stand.

Bullets’ commercial manager Kelvin Moyo said they are ready to celebrate the legacy of a man who shaped the history of their great rivalry.

The late Osman was the first player to switch from Wanderers to Bullets in 1968, sparking the fierce rivalry that still exists between the two giants.

“He made it even more interesting when he scored a hat-trick in his first match against the Nomads. May his soul continue to rest in peace,” said Moyo.

The Blantyre Derby has maintained its allure since 1967, when a group broke away from Wanderers, founded in 1962 by Portuguese migrants, to form Nyasaland Bullets.

The founders of Wanderers were FC Porto supporters in their homeland; hence, they incorporated the blue and white colors of Porto into the club’s crest. The club’s first official base was Chichiri in Blantyre.

It’s commonly rumored that the current clubhouse was built after a white Portuguese girl fell in love with club legend Yasin Osman, much to the displeasure of the Portuguese.

As such, the clubhouse was built specifically for African players after this incident to deter future relationships between Africans and Europeans.

In those years, there were Nyasaland Railways, Blantyre Sports Club, and Limbe Sports Country, but Wanderers were a dominant force. They won the Blantyre and Districts League in 1964/65 and again in 1967.

Despite the division in 1967, Wanderers still won the league in the next two seasons due to their financial strength, but the formation of Bullets spiced up football in the district.

Bullets won the league five times in six seasons between 1970 and 1975, marking the emergence of another powerhouse. There was the National Champions League before the National Playoffs winners.

Before the commencement of the Super League in 1986, Wanderers and Bullets were close in terms of achievements. Despite being formed after Wanderers, Bullets leapfrogged the Nomads by winning eight league titles compared to Wanderers’ championships.

Fast forward to the Super League era starting in 1986, Bullets proved they were no longer pushovers. Since then, they have become a better side than their predecessors, adding 17 titles to their previous eight, while Wanderers have won seven titles. In total, Bullets now have 25 league titles, while Wanderers have 13.

Mighty Wanderers, striving to reclaim their “Mighty” status, have been a diminished force in recent years, winning the league just once in the last 15 years—their 2017 championship under the guidance of the late Osman as head coach.

Since TNM Plc began investing heavily in the league, Bullets have dominated, winning the league seven times, while Silver Strikers have been the closest challengers with six championships.

“We want to write Nlnew history” – Bob Mpinganjira

Bob Mpinganjira was entrusted with the head coach role after leading the club to the Castel Championship last season, defeating Mzuzu City Hammers.

Despite some resistance from sections of supporters, Wanderers stood by their decision, opting against foreign-based coaches.

Bob has started the season on a high note, notwithstanding a heartbreaking defeat to Karonga United in the Top 8 Cup. Until last week, the Nomads had a 100% winning record but dropped points against their blue rivals, Silver Strikers, at Kamuzu Stadium.

Since 2008, the Nomads have been overshadowed by their rivals in head-to-head encounters across all competitions—losing 23 times, winning 14 times, and drawing 29 games.

The Nomads have secured just one victory in the last 13 Blantyre derbies, which came on penalties after a goalless draw in the 2022 Top 8 Cup final.

In league matches, the two most decorated Blantyre-based teams have had little difference, with Bullets holding two wins and Wanderers one win since 2021. The games have often ended evenly.

However, overall head-to-head records in all competitions show Bullets with seven wins (six in normal time and one on penalties) and four draws.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Mpinganjira said they aim to change history this time around, emphasizing that the team is focused on the present and future.

“We’re not looking at the past,” he added. “We’re here to play football, fight hard, and win. We’ll do everything we can to claim the points and move up in the league standings.”

However, Wanderers face a challenge heading into the derby due to a defensive crisis. The team will have only one fit center-back, Peter Cholopi, as Lawrence Chaziya and Chimwemwe Nkhoma are sidelined with injuries. Additionally, Sama Thierry Tanjong and Mphatso Kamanga are unavailable for the match.

“It’s a derby, typically tightly closed” – Mponda

Peter Mponda has experienced the emotional intensity of facing rivals as a player, but Saturday will mark his first Blantyre Derby as head coach of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets. After guiding Silver Strikers to the 2024 TNM Super League title, Bullets swiftly reappointed Mponda as Kalisto Pasuwa’s successor.

Mponda is no stranger to the fierce Blantyre Derby. He previously served as an assistant coach at Bullets before leaving for South Africa in 2023, later returning to coach Silver Strikers in 2024.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Mponda emphasized the fine margins that define derby fixtures.

“These matches are decided by small mistakes,” said Mponda. “We’re heading into this game with a 100% winning record, but Wanderers have only dropped two points. That makes it a tight encounter. They’ve shown massive improvement in recent matches.

“These games can either make or break players, but I avoid putting unnecessary pressure on my squad. Win, lose, or draw, we can still win the league.”

How each coach Is adapting to his squad

Mponda is managing a Bullets squad in transition, while his rivals are benefiting from continuity. Both Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers are early-season favourites due to their squad stability.

Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira has been at the helm for years and continues to rely on the core of last season’s squad. Likewise, Peter Mgangira at Silver Strikers is building on a consistent foundation.

In contrast, Mponda inherited a Bullets team that underwent a significant overhaul, especially in defense.

Key defenders such as Gomezgani Chirwa, Niton Nyasulu, Collins Mujuru, Alick Lungu, and Precious Phiri all departed earlier this year, forcing Mponda to rebuild his backline.

To address the defensive void, Mponda has made tactical adjustments—abandoning his preferred 4-3-3 setup in favour of a more compact 3-5-2 formation.

The change has paid off: Bullets have won six of their first seven matches in all competitions, including five consecutive league victories, and currently sit atop the table. Remarkably, they’ve conceded just once in eight games under Mponda.

Meanwhile, Mpinganjira has also shown flexibility. After defensive lapses in earlier matches, Wanderers switched to a 3-5-2 formation in their recent clash against Silver Strikers, signaling an intent to tighten things at the back.