Silver tighten grip at top
Talk about Silver Strikers’ incredible run in the TNM Super League cannot be avoided as the Bankers face defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets this afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium.
The Bankers, who yesterday beat Max Bullets 3-0 at Kalulu Stadium lead the table with 29 points, 10 above their opponents Bullets.
They are unbeaten in 11 matches with nine wins against Civo United, Max Bullets, Wizards FC, Karonga United, Blue Eagles, Epac, Dwangwa United, Red Lions and Moyale Barracks and two draws against Mzuni and Kamuzu Barracks.
They have only lost to Azam Tigers and Be Forward Wanderers, thanks to a youthful side that has jelled well under coach Lovemore Fazili and the Bankers’ technical director Young Chimodzi behind the scenes.
But Fazili said the impeccable performance in the league was not a guarantee that they will have an easy ride against Bullets who are struggling in the league.
The last time the Bankers were in town they were outclassed 0-2 by Bullets—Mussa Manyenje and Dalitso Sailesi were the architect of that humiliation.
Coming from a Presidential Cup victory and 5-1drubbing of Max Bullets, the morale is high in Bullets camp.
But assistant coach Mavuto Lungu said they are not taken up by neither the team’s record against Strikers nor the Presidential Cup glory.
“This is a different match. It will be a tough one, but we are focused,” the coach said on Wednesday.
Analyst Enos Chatama said this afternoon’s match was a defining moment for Silver’s championship chase.
He said: “It will be a tough game taking into consideration that Bullets are beaming with confidence after Presidential Cup triumph and beating Max Bullets. Playing at home behind a capacity crowd is another advantage.
“In the past three years Silver have found it tough to break Bullets at the Kamuzu Stadium. But they are in scintillating form now. They are playing attractive football. It will be an interesting match to watch. If they apply their tactics properly and remove the fear factor, they have all the chances of beating Bullets. As it is today, Bullets have a lot of weaknesses. Their only advantage is that a lot of teams have that fear factor when playing Bullets.”
