-Wanderers aim for a double over Bullets
-Bullets target 7-point gap
When FCB Nyasa Big Bullets face rivals Mighty Wanderers this Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium, calculators will be flying around in the stands as this derby has several permutations on the league title as well as individual accolades.
Bullets come into the derby with a 4-point lead over their rivals and this Sunday they will be aiming to open up a 7 point gap at the summit.
On the other hand, Wanderers trail their noisy neighbors by 4 points and a win will see them narrow that gap to 1 most importantly with a game in hand.
With 21 games played, a Bullets win would surely mean the People’s team are on course to reclaiming the super league title which they last won in 2023 before they were dethroned by Silver Strikers last season.
For Wanderers a win would now stir things up in the title race as with a point gap plus a game in hand, the Lali Lubani boys would stand better chances of overtaking Bullets at the top.
KEY TALKING POINTS;
Double dream
Mighty Wanderers stand a chance of making history of their own by becoming the first team to claim derby double success in a decade.
No team has won the Blantyre derby back to back in a season since 2015 and with Wanderers already bragging about their first round success, a win on Sunday would see them break that 10 year jinx.
Battle for Golden Glove:
Aside the team points, this Sunday’s derby also has individual accolades to fight for and one interesting battle will be in goalkeeping where in form Wanderers goalie Dalitso Khungwa would probably come against Bullets’ Innocent Nyasulu.
The 2 share an unprecedented 19 clean sheets in between them with Nyasulu at 10 Â and Khungwa at 9 so a Khungwa clean sheet would see the 2 former Mighty Tigers goalkeepers moving level on 10.
Potential Match winners:
There must be someone who should win you the derby and yes this Sunday eyes will be on sleeky winger Chikumbutso Salima who currently leads the Assists chart.
Bullets’ strength this season has been their ability to score goals for fun as in the league only Wanderers and Blue Eagles has been able to stop them from scoring and the architect of most of those goals has been Salima who has formed a deadly striking force combination with Babatunde Adepoju, Peter Banda, Hassan Kajoke and Ephraim Kondowe.
For Wanderers, first round derby hero Blessings Mwalilino will lead the charge as he aim to increase his goal tally currently at 6.
His efforts will have to be complemented by the never aging Isaac Kaliati who will have to add his derby experience into the flavor if the Lali Lubani boys are to claim maximum points. Others to look out for in the blue camp would be Captain Felix Zulu as well as seasoned campaigner Stanley Sanudi who will be returning to the field after serving his one match suspension.
Who Misses out?
From the first round derby, Bullets will be without the services of former Captain Lloyd Aaron who left for a foreign club Muaither SC so too are Mighty Wanderers who will be competing in the derby without versatile left footed winger Francisco Madinga who is playing professional football with Kansanshi Dynamos outside the country.
Bullets though have injury issues to deal with heading into the derby as they will be without defending midfielder Yankho Singo.
Apart from Singo, Coach Peter Mponda seem to have a near full strength squad to choose from so too is his opposite number Bob Mpinganjira.
So the Blantyre derby is presented upon us to enjoy.
It’s no ordinary Blantyre derby.
Pride and records are at stake.
Who claims the city’s bragging rights?
