With a battered reputation, stalked by awful displays in recent matches, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, with their heads down due to internal squabbles, go into a Blantyre derby against their sworn rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets, looking for salvation at Kamuzu Stadium this afternoon.
There is so much at stake apart from points and pride in this afternoon’s match.
For Wanderers, the match is between life and death as this will be more than a derby for them.
Nomads coach Mark Harrison could face a double edged sword if results will not be in his favour. Probably, the match has come too soon for him as he is under pressure due poor showing in recent matches.
The anger which has been boiling in Wanderers fans exploded on two occasions as they barred players from boarding the team bus.
Straight from their 1-1 stalemate with Dedza Dynamos at the same venue, the Nomads have another huge task this afternoon.
For Bullets, they have also been inconsistent this season.
Smarting from a goal-less draw with Kamuzu Barracks at Civo Stadium, Bullets are not at their best this season but coach Kalisto Pasuwa seems to be in a relaxed mood at this stage.
But trailing rejuvenated Silver Strikers by three points in the battle for championship, this should send some shocking waves to the People’s Team.
Facing Wanderers who are in a crisis could be dangerous.
Like wounded buffaloes, the Nomads have all what it takes to beat any team.
A derby is not an ordinary match.
This is the 70 league derby between the two sides since the league was introduced in 1986.
For Bullets, they have won more derbies than their rivals.
Last year, Bullets beat Wanderers 2-1 in the opening match of the 2022 season at the same venue before a 3-3 draw in the second round match.
Wanderers claimed a 5-3 victory over Bullets on post-match penalties in the Airtel Top 8 Cup final.
They also met in the 2023 NBS Bank Charity Shield at Bingu National Stadium in which Bullets won 2-1 this year.
The two rivals are separated by three points on the log table with Bullets second on 21 points from 10 matches, three points behind leaders Silver.
The Nomads are third with 18 points from the same number of matches.
For now, the title race is too early to call as this is a marathon.
Harrison and Pasuwa are no strangers to each other having met in Zimbabwe on several occasions.
The Nomads gaffer, Harrison was calm and composed ahead of the derby.
“Win, lose or draw, we will still be in the fight for the championship. Nobody is going to win the title after the derby. The boys are up for the fight and we want to take the game to them,’’ Harrison said.
The Briton will likely rely on goalkeeper William Thole, Stanley Sanudi, Gaddie Chirwa, Christopher Kumwembe and Vincent Nyangulu.
Sounding calm and composed, Pasuwa said derbies are always tricky.
“The derby is always associated with pressure. Wanderers will come hard on us and we should not take this match lightly,” Pasuwa said.
Pasuwa has several injury concerns but he has captain John Lanjesi, Collins Okumu, Gomezgani Chirwa, Alick Lungu, Lanjesi Nkhoma and Hassan Kajoke at his disposal.
Elsewhere, Silver will host Chitipa United at Civo Stadium. Red Lions will meet Karonga United at Balaka Stadium whereas Moyale Barracks will face Extreme at Mzuzu Stadium.
