Not there yet
Nyasa Big Bullets say they will not throw caution to the wind when they host South Africa’s AmaZulu FC this afternoon in a CAF Champions League preliminary round second leg at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
The People’s Team go into this afternoon’s battle itching to put the lid on the tin, having defied the odds to win the first leg 0-1 away in Durban with a man down for the better part of the game, courtesy of Chiukepo ‘Yakubu’ Msowoya’s first half strike.
Bullets’ Zimbabwean coach Callisto Pasuwa stressed in a pre-match interview that they will not sit on their laurels, knowing that Usuthu will come with all their guns blazing.
duel during the first leg
He said the job is not done yet and AmaZulu have the potential to turn it around.
Said Pasuwa: “In South Africa it was just the first round of 90 minutes and the job is not done yet.
“We know they will come firing all their arsenal, so there is need to try and defend the lead we have. It’s all about grit and focus.
“The players are motivated and there is a lot of zeal to do better than they did away.
“In the first leg the idea was always to keep shape and not try to be too adventurous. I also told the guys to give their all so as to compensate for the defender we had lost through the red card.”
Bullets got a timely boost yesterday when Msowoya and Babatunde Adepoju passed a late fitness test.
The People’s Team is tipped to use a 4-3-3 formation with McFarlen Mgwira partnering Msowoya and Adepoju upfront.
In midfield, Chimango Kayira, Chimwemwe Idana and Henry Kabichi are expected to keep the engines running.
The rearguard is most likely to comprise the quartet of Nickson Nyasulu, Miracle Gabeya, Sankhani Mkandawire and Gomezgani Chirwa while in form Richard Chimbamba will guard the posts.
McCarthy was quoted by businesslive.co.za as having said that he believes a bit of flair mixed with speed and a lot of movement could help them turn around the fortunes.
He said: “We expect a physical game and that’s why using trickery and speed could help us overturn the tables.
“We have to go to a very difficult place and overturn losing at home, and then looking to go and win away from home in Africa, which not many teams have done, but now we are asking that of ourselves.”
McCarthy has dropped his Malawian defender Limbikani Mzava whom he relied on for tips on how Bullets play.
The Flames captain said he is training with AmaZulu’s reserve side while waiting for his team’s return.
AmaZulu have struggled for form both in the 2021-22 DStv Premiership despite finishing last season as runners-up in which they went 17 games unbeaten at some point.
On Tuesday they played out a goalless draw with SuperSport United. Their key players include Thabo Qalinge and Tercious Malepe
