Big Bullets challenge Dynamos
After all the pre-match hype and transfer market activities, Super League champions, Nyasa Big Bullets, finally get their first real test when they face Zimbabwe’s most successful club, Dynamos on Saturday.
The two sides first tussle at Kamuzu Stadium Saturday afternoon in the inaugural Nyasa Challenge Cup before changing the battle ground to Civo Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday.
The overall winner will receive a trophy, but there is no prize money for the champions. Dynamos are nicknamed the Glamour Boys.
The match is of much significance to the hosts who have made a number of changes to their technical team and playing squad.
Bullets have hired coach Franco Ndawa and strengthened the squad with John Lanjesi, Emmanuel Zoya (from Civo United), Muhammad Sulumba (from Blantyre United via Be Forward Wanderers), Amadu Makawa (Dedza Young Soccer) and Ernest Kakhobwe (Azam Tigers) each on three-year contracts.
The matches against Dynamos thus serve as a litmus test for Bullets to see whether their star-studded squad can deliver the goods which their new sponsor, Nyasa Manufacturing Company, has challenged them to produce next season.
Ndawa said he was ready to make an instant impact during the pre-season competititon.
“I am not new at Bullets. I played for the club in the 1980’s and made a name as a player there. The current squad is good and the coaching panel is also good,” he said.
“I will work together with the rest of the technical team to make sure that the team produces good results. We are ready to do well this weekend so that we should give joy and hope to the Bullets family.”
Ndawa said every player would be given a chance this weekend to prove themselves.
Dynamos have come with a strong 41-member squad that comprises trialists, Duru Ikenna Mercy and Carlos from Nigeria and Portugal respectively.
The team, which arrived on Thursday night, also comprises Zimbabwe internationals Ronald Chitiyo, Tatenda Mukuruva and Ocean Mushure who are the side’s possible match winners. Chitiyo can be handy with his pace and trickery in the wings.
Dynamos, who have won the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League 15 times, will proceed to Tanzania for further pre-season with their Portuguese coach, Paulo Jorge Silva, trying playing combinations.
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