FCB Nyasa Big Bullets coach Wedson Nyirenda has said his long-term ambition is to help the team establish itself as one of the top clubs in Africa.
The Zambian mentor told the club’s website on Monday that The People’s Team can build on its domestic success and conquer the continent.
“The message to the players is that we must think beyond domestic success. We have to become a team that will conquer Africa. There is nothing like saying Malawi is a small country. There are no small countries in football. Look at what countries like Cape Verde have achieved,” Nyirenda said.
Bullets are Malawi’s most successful domestic club, having won 17 Super League titles, including five consecutive titles under former coach Kalisto Pasuwa, who is now Malawi National Football Team coach.
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The club has also won several domestic cup titles but has gone two seasons without lifting the FDH Bank Premiership trophy.
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Nyirenda said Bullets’ benchmark should be their performance in continental competitions.
“Our focus should be to win the league, win the cups and take the next step by making a real impact on the African stage. That is when we can truly say the Bullets brand is growing.
“But if we keep winning domestic titles and then get eliminated after just one tie in continental competitions, we have to ask ourselves what progress we are really making,” he said.
The team will not participate in Caf’s elite competitions, the Caf Champions League and Caf Confederation Cup, for the second consecutive year.
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Bullets last reached the Caf Champions League in 2004 under Kinnah Phiri but have since failed to progress beyond the preliminary qualifying round.
Sports analyst Thokozani Chimbali said Bullets’ ambitions must be matched with sustained investment rather than expecting quick results.
“A five to 10-year strategic plan would be more realistic. Young Africans of Tanzania are a good example. Their success is the product of nearly a decade of deliberate investment, strategic recruitment and strong leadership,” he said.
Currently, Bullets are second on the 16-team log table with 19 points from nine matches. They have won three league games under Nyirenda.
