The time is now. When sixteen teams treat football fans to the brim of the country’s top-tier football through the TNM Super League. So, those games, that race starts today with FCB Nyasa Big Bullets marking their title defense against Silver Strikers at the Bingu National Stadium.
The sides go into a match having exchanged some key players from last season. Bullets earned the signature of Maxwell Gasten Phodo, whose partnership with Stain Dave at Silver led to the team’s bragging goals last season.
The Central Bankers have in their fold, Chimwemwe Idana who signed on loan from Tanzanian side Mbeya SC. This is a name of a player that Bullets fans will likely continue keeping at their lips if the recent past seasons are anything to go. He was the player that Idana won two Charity Shields, four TNM Super League titles, the Airtel Top 8 Cup, and the FDH Bank Cup. He also was Player of the Season in the 2020/21 campaign.
Back at Bullets, the Blantyre-based side now has to begin life without prolific forward Babatunde Adepoju after the 27 -year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the South African National First Division Venda Football Academy.
His 18 goals earned him the winner of the golden boot, and his scintillating performances undoubtedly should be attached to the Bullets’ fourth league win triumph.
The two sides open up the glamour in a match that also signals the start of life in Malawi football for Pieter de Jongh in the dugout for the team.
The Dutchman has meanwhile said while expecting a tall order against Bullets, his side has had to prepare quite impressively for the match and that he has targets to meet as demanded by the board.
His opposite number Calisto Pasuwa has described the game as important at the start of their title defense.
In the last 18 matches between the sides, the Reds have been dominating having claimed eight wins against Silver’s three.
Elsewhere, Mighty Tigers, a side that finished 12th with 31 points last season begin the campaign at Mpira Stadium against the newly promoted side from the Central Region Extreme FC.
At Mzuzu Stadium, fans will be treated to a match between Moyale Barracks and Karonga United.
The soldiers had a season to remember when they finished 7th with 46 points, fourteen ahead of the Karonga side which finished 11th.
Chitipa United which has made a comeback to the league start away to Mafco, a side that claimed 50 points last season and finished in the 6th slot. Here is the entire fixture list for the opening weekend.
Day 01
15 April 2023
Silver Strikers Nyasa Big Bullets @Bingu
Moyale Barracks Karonga United @ Mzuzu
Tigers Extreme FC @Mpira
MAFCO FC Chitipa United @Chitowe
Day 02
16 April 2023
Dedza Dynamos Bangwe All Stars @Dedza
Blue Eagles Red Lions @Nankhaka
Ekwendeni Hammers Kamuzu Barracks @Mzuzu
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Civil Service United @Kamuzu