Front PageNational Sports

Bullets say team’s air travel not a luxury

Nyasa Big Bullets say the decision to fly the team to Karonga for this afternoon’s TNM Super League match against Karonga United is for strategic reasons.

For the first time in their history, the People’s Team flew to Karonga from Blantyre on Friday morning in a hired Malawi Defence Force (MDF) helicopter.

Bullets players captured before they boarded the plane

The club’s chief executive officer (CEO) Fleetwood Haiya said apart from being economically viable, the move will help the team avoid fatigue.

“It is a strategic move in terms of fatigue. In the recent past, we travelled to Lilongwe for TNM Super League matches then Mzuzu for an Airtel Top 8 match and it has been physically draining.

“It is also time saving. Our commitment is keeping the players’ wellness so that they concentrate on the ground. We thank the president [of the board] Konrad Buckle and the entire board for the support they give to management,” he said.

Head coach Rogers Yasin and vice-captain Pilirani Zonda commended the team management for the move.

Said Yasin: “The distance to Karonga is over 800 kilometres and travelling by road takes a toll on the players physically.

“With this move, the players will be fresh and their focus will be on the game. “

Commenting on the match, the Bullets mentor said they are looking forward to returning to winning ways after goalless draws against Moyale Barracks and Mzuzu University (Mzuni) FC.

“It will be a tough match though. We played them in a pre-season friendly at the same venue, so we know what to expect. But we are ready.

“Of course, we have struggled to score in recent matches, but we have tried to rectify that,” he said.

On his part, Zonda who has not made the trip due to a hamstring injury said: “On behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank the team management for flying us to Karonga, not necessarily because of the luxury associated with flying, but the reasons behind the move. This will ensure that the team should be in shape for the game.”

Apart from Zonda, Bullets will also be without captain John ‘Kintu’ Lanjesi, strikers Chiukepo Msowoya and Patrick Phiri who were with the Flames in Polokwane, South Africa for the Cosafa Cup.

Karonga coach Christopher Nyambose, whose side will be buoyed by their 1-0 win over Moyale last weekend, said they are set for the battle.

“We have heard that they are flying over here. Let them come, we are waiting for them. We want to continue from where we stopped against Moyale.

“The morale in our camp is high and we have a full squad,” he said.

Bullets lead the 16-team log table with 17 points from seven matches and they stand proudly as the only unbeaten team. On the other hand, Karonga are seventh with nine points from seven games.

Related Articles

Back to top button