Big Bullets FC are currently enjoying probably their best form in recent years and their TNM Super League fixture against Escom United, which has haunted them for years, would not have come at better time than today.
The People’s Team seek their first league win over Escom in six years as they meet this afternoon at Balaka Stadium in probably the league’s game of the week.
Unbeaten in the last three games and coming from convincing back-to-back wins last weekend, Bullets are oozing with confidence to get it right this around.
Their case may be aided by Escom’s run of poor form this season which has seen them stuck to the bottom of the log table with just seven points from as many games. Escom have lost seven games with just two wins while Bullets—who are sixth on the log table—have 17 points from 10 games with four wins, four losses and two draws.
In fact, Bullets managed a rare win over Escom three weeks ago when they emerged victors in the semifinals of the Presidential Cup.
Bullets coach Eddie Ng’onamo says they are looking forward to a double over struggling United.
“We have struggled a lot against Escom in the league and failing to win the past years shows how dominant they have been over us.
“It is not going to be easy, but we will give our best try. The fact that they are struggling does not mean that they will have a walkover. In the [Presidential] cup, they forced us into penalties, so that shows how hard they can be to beat,†he said.
Escom coach Charles Manda said going into the game as underdogs will help them approach the game without pressure.
“They [BB] are strong favourites and they are in good form. They are scoring goals and are not conceding; that is a very big strength for them. But we also have a mission to move out of the relegation zone before the end of the first round so we need the points more than they do. We will give out our best like any other game,†said Manda.
Bullets red-hot striker Gabadinho Mhango is once again expected to lead Bullets in attack. Having scored his first league goals after claiming a brace in Bullets 2-0 win over Tigers last Sunday, Gabadinho has vowed to keep them coming..
“The Bullets midfield is providing very good service and I will work hard to utilise them to the maximum by scoring in each game,†he said.
He forms a deadly three-man attack with veteran striker Heston Munthali and Diverson Mlozi while Douglas Chirambo, Chimango Kayira, Samson Chonde, James Chilapondwa and Fischer Kondowe keep the midfield engine running.
The setback is that defender George Nyirenda is out with malaria.
For Escom, prodigal son Noel ‘Amfumu’ Mkandawire is back after his move to Civo United flopped and will lead the youthful and new look Escom as they try to salvage some pride and survive the relegation scare.
In another potentially exciting game, troubled Mighty Wanderers play their first game since they fired coach Franco Ndawa two weeks ago.
Now coached by Ndawa’s former assistant Felix Fosiko, the Nomads face inform Blue Eagles at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Midfielder Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo said the Nomads are geared to return to winning ways after going for four games without a win.
