Kamuzu Barracks FC (KB) are itching for Wednesday’s Carlsberg Cup quarter-final meeting with Big Bullets at Dedza Stadium “to expose their [Bullets’] fake giant status”, the Lilongwe soldiers’ general secretary Dickson Ntontholo has said.
He said this on Saturday after booting out Carlsberg Cup defending champions Blue Eagles 4-3. On the other hand, Bullets defeated Silver Strikers by one goal to nil at Kamuzu Stadium.
Said Ntontholo: “We have got our wish to meet Bullets. We have waited for too long for this. They are our class and, in fact, we are better. This is our turn to prove this.”
“They call themselves the People’s Team, but this is mere talk. They may have a big fan base, but this does not translate on the pitch to warrant such a reputation. Their players are past it. It’s all mere names. Talking about current standards, we are, by far, better.”
He faulted local sports media for what he called unjustifiable continued glorification of Silver Strikers, Mighty Wanderers and Big Bullets as domestic giants.
“This is our second season in the top-flight league. We have performed consistently, yet you the media cannot give us credit,” said Ntontholo.
Harvey Nkacha’s hat-trick and Ben Hojani’s strike earned KB the win against the Eagles whereas Bullets edged Silver through a Dalitso Sailesi sole strike.
Bullets assistant coach Gerald Phiri Senior on Sunday called on KB to respect them.
He said: “Football is determined by what happens on the pitch and not mere talk. We have an established reputation. They are at liberty not to fear us but, at least, they should respect us.”
“We are equally not shaken at the prospect of meeting them but we respect them. We have put our house in order, morale is back and I have no doubt we will scale greater heights in this cup.”
