CAF confirms BB, Masters
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed Nyasa Big Bullets and Masters Security as Malawi representatives this year in the continent’s club competitions.
The two clubs will know their opponents on July 18 when draws for the two competitions will be held in Egypt.
The preliminary round will be played from August 9 2019 to May 30 2020, according to a statement from CAF secretariat.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said the first legs for the preliminary round first legs are scheduled for August 9 to 11 while the second legs will be played from August 23 to 25.
Confederation Cup representatives Masters, who are struggling in TNM Super League and are on position 12 with 10 points from nine games, are facing problems both on and off the pitch.
Some of their players are on a go-slow due to unpaid dues, a development that has affected the team’s performance.
After their latest defeat in which they were clobbered 6-1 by Be Forward Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre in TNM Super League, coach Abbas Mawawa confessed that the club was in trouble.
“We need to do something before it is too late,” the coach said.
Masters are hoping to return to the CAF club competitions after representing Malawi in the 2017 edition where they were knocked out by Atletico Petroleos de Luanda of Angola.
Bullets have also their share of problems.
They have struggled to show their clout as TNM Super League defending champions and are on position four with 18 points from nine games.
But unlike, Masters whose problems are both financial and technical, injuries has been Bullets’ main setback.
Soccer analyst Felix Sapao felt Bullets will be able pull up their socks despite their present challenges.
“Bullets are fine. It’s injuries that have rocked them,” he said.
The club’s administration manager Albert Chigoga said they expect the technical panel to utilise the players that are available.
“We register a number of players initially, leaving a spot for more registration, in the event of injuries and other unforeseen circumstances.
“Technically, I think it’s up to the coaches to ensure that fitness of our players is excellent. This also takes into consideration how the players are used in Champions League and local games,” he said.
Bullets and Silver Strikers represented Malawi in 2018 CAF club competitions.
Bullets were knocked out by Kenya’s Gor Mahia in preliminary round while Gabon giants AOC Mbérie booted out the Bankers at the same stage of Confederations Cup.
The winners of the Champions League will qualify for the 2020 Fifa Club World Cup and earn the right to play against the winners of the CAF Confederation Cup in the 2020 CAF Super Cup.
