Mponda: It’s easy to motivate players when playing teams like Wanderers, Bullets

Silver Strikers are back in action at home as they host their fellow title chasers, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at Silver Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Bankers are enjoying a good start to the season, winning five of the six opening matches and they are yet to suffer a defeat.

The Nomads who also remain unbeaten in the league are going into this game boasting a good start to the season too, winning three of their six games as they are coming from a 1-0 win over Karonga United.

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Speaking ahead of the game, Peter Mponda, said his charges know the importance of the game and it is easy to motivate them when playing against teams like Wanderers and Bullets.

“It is very easy to motivate the players when playing teams like Wanderers and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets. The players are ready and feel motivated to face them. They want to show that they are good enough to play against anyone,” he said.

The Bankers are leading the table with 16 points, three above second-placed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets who beat Mzuzu City Hammers on Saturday. They are four points above the Nomads and a win will see them going seven points above Wanderers and six over Bullets.

Silver Strikers, Big Bullets, and Mighty Wanderers are the traditional title contenders every season, however, Mponda says beating or losing to Wanderers will mean nothing in the title race.

“I’m one coach who believes that beating Bullets or Wanderers will help us win the league. Last season, we didn’t fail to win the league because of losing to Bullets or Wanderers, we failed because teams like Extreme, Chitipa United, and Bangwe All took points when we faced them, that’s where we failed.

“These games are very important for us to continue our momentum but they don’t decide the winners of the Championship,” he added.

The two heavyweights who share 15 league titles between them are facing off in just a few days after facing off on Kamuzu Day as Wanderers claimed a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to Francisco Madinga’s strike. However, both coaches used fringe players as one way of preparing for this crucial encounter.

Last season, Silver Strikers played 10 games unbeaten under Pieter De Jongh but they suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium. However, Chimwemwe Idana’s strike was enough for the Bankers to take revenge in the reverse fixture.

The Nomads have lost two of the previous away games against Silver in the TNM Super League, the last time they returned home with maximum points was in 202 when Vincent Nyangulu scored the only goal.