Teacher vs. Student: Pasuwa faces his emerging nemesis, Mponda

On the Holy Sunday, Blantyre’s Kamuzu Stadium will set ablaze as FCB Nyasa Big Bullets take on the Central Bankers, and Silver Strikers in a high-stake fixture in the TNM Super League.

This fixture is not just an ordinary battle but it has magical substance to the outlook of the league: Peter Mponda, the Silver Strikers’ head coach and a Bullets legend, will face his former mentor, Kallisto Pasuwa. The two heavyweights share 25 league titles with Bullets winning it 17 times while the Bankers have won it 8 times.

MORE NEWS FROM WAMPIRA

The former Flames skipper, Mponda served as Pasuwa’s assistant at Bullets before heading to South Africa to coach the Black Leopards. Now, they meet as rivals in a classic “teacher vs. student” encounter.

• Chaomba, Jackson stub as Creck crack Bullets’ title ambitions
• Shema scores late as Silver punish innocent Civil again
• Unlucky Wanderers Miss Top Spot, Championship Charge Delayed

Representing the capital city, Lilongwe, Silver Strikers are undoubtedly giants poised to challenge the pride of the commercial city, Blantyre, the Bullets after thrashing their neighbors weeks ago in Lilongwe.

Bullets have historically had the upper hand in this matchup, boasting five wins, one loss, and five draws against Silver Strikers in recent meetings. Despite a shaky start to the previous season, Bullets have always found a way to outsmart their opponents in crucial fixtures like this.

Currently, Silver Strikers sit at the top of the league table with 22 points. A win in Blantyre would extend their lead to a formidable 11-point gap over Bullets. This fixture, aside from the famed Blantyre Derby, is one of the most anticipated clashes in Malawian football, and it’s no wonder it’s categorized in Group A.

For Silver Strikers to secure victory, they’ll need to tighten up their defense while maintaining their potent attacking threat. On the other hand, Bullets must capitalize on their home-ground advantage, relying on their player number 11 in that famous Ndirande Biafra to spur them on. Additionally, Bullets will need to address their scoring woes, as their attackers have struggled to convert chances into goals this season.

“Silver Strikers are coming on us. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 [𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬], but we take each game as it comes. We have to encourage the guys to play Football. There is no difference, the same way we approach the games, have a positive mind and have points coming.

“The only concern is our inability to convert chances into goals. We need to go and work with our strikers,” Pasuwa said after the game against Moyale Barracks.

With both teams bringing their best to the pitch, fans can expect a fiercely contested match. Regardless of the odds, this fixture promises excitement and drama, making it a must-watch for football faithful.

Though suffered Adiel Kaduya’s setback and has been ruled out of the game, Peter Mponda has arsenals available to battle with his master as Binwell Katinji, who missed the team’s previous two games has returned to training.

The Bankers are not just leading the points table, but also the scoring table, plundering 21 goals, 11 more than Bullets’ total goals this season. They are 8 points ahead of the defending Champions.