Blantyre Derby: Bullets ready for Wanderers – Mponda

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets FC’s coach Peter Mponda has declared that his side is ready to face eternal rivals Mighty Wanderers FC on Sunday.

The second instalment of the Blantyre Derby, Malawi’s biggest domestic football encounter, will take place at the country’s ancestral home, Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday.

What is at stake in Blantyre Derby on Sunday?

The commercial city’s bragging rights are at stake, and so is the TNM Super League driving seat. A win would see the People’s Team widening their gap from second-placed Nomads to seven points.

The job at hand is even more challenging for Wanderers coach Bob Mpinganjira. He has an obligation to preserve his team’s unbeaten league run, knowing that a draw would not be good enough.

Only a win would see Wanderers, who trail Bullets by four points with a game in hand, eventually climbing back on top of the 16-member league table.

With so much at stake, Mponda told his club’s media team that he could not have asked for a better time to face Wanderers, who won the first Blantyre Derby in the league’s first round.

“They are meeting us while we feel that we are in a good space because the team has gelled. That time we were just playing in patches, but now we are consistent. Everyone is happy to meet Wanderers now that we are consistent,” the Bullets coach said.

“They won the first round game, they have confidence, but today I can speak with confidence that we are ready for them.”

The 17-time Super League champions will go into the derby, basking in the glory of a five-game winning run while Wanderers have won thrice and drawn twice in five straight league matches.