BB, nomads in Charity battle
Nyasa Big Bullets technical director Billy Tewesa has launched a cheeky attack on organisers of this afternoon’s Chifundo Charity Shield arguing that the TNM Super League champions were supposed to get more money than rivals Be Forward Wanderers as appearance fees.
The two fiercest Blantyre rivals clash at Civo stadium in Lilongwe in a curtain-raiser for the 2016 Super League season which is expected to kick off next Saturday.
According to Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competition’s manager Gomezgani Zakazaka, both teams have been paid K1.5 million as appearance fee.
in a previous encounter
“In addition to that, we are meeting the costs of their transport and accommodation,” he said, adding that “there will be no prize money for the winner.”
Reacting to the development, Tewesa said Bullets as the Super League defending champions, deserved more because they have a larger following than Wanderers who are playing in the Chifundo Shield because they won the Carlsberg Cup.
“I would have been happy if our players were given better packages than our opponents. Honestly, Wanderers are not supposed to be paid the same amount as us,” he said.
Tewesa said they want to win to send a message that they are in for the defence of the title.
“Added to that we will want to see how our new players are blending with the rest of the team. We are treating this game with seriousness,” the technical director said.
But Wanderers team manager Steve Madeira said his team will respond to Tewesa’s remarks on the pitch.
“Those are his thoughts. He is always looking to cause confusion. My lads will show him how good we are. I think after the match he will swallow his words. I have heard him so many times calling me a small boy, but I have better management skills.”
In the just-ended transfer market, Wanderers and Bullets have been in conflict over the deals for strikers Muhammad Sulumba and Jaffalie Chande.
Sulumba joined Bullets despite Wanderers having expressed strong interest to seal a permanent deal.
Chande has crossed to the blue side, but contractual issues are still haunting his move.
Madeira said the transfer developments have intensified the rivalry between the two teams, but they will have to focus on the game.
Bullets new players include defenders Emmanuel Zoya, John Langesi and George Nyirenda while Wanderers have striker Peter Wadabwa, defender Rafiq Namwera and midfielder Ernest Tambe. n
