The 2022 FDH Bank Cup runners up, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves, will commence the new campaign of the competition with a home fixture against Mpondas FC on Monday afternoon at the Kamuzu Stadium.
Interestingly Monday’s opponents are the same outfit Enos Chatama’s side started last year’s FDH Bank Cup campaign with.
The Reserves side head into the last 32 tie with the favourite tag on them considering that the last time it hosted the Mangochi based lower league outfit, it emerged 8-0 winners.
Mpondas, who won 2-1 over Ntaja Rangers in the preliminary round, will however be looking for an improved encounter against the side that made waves in the competition last year by defeating three TNM Super League thoroughbreds on its way to the final against its senior side Nyasa Big Bullets.
Chatama’s boys currently lead ThumbsUp Southern Region Football League Group B with six points.
It has really been a strong start to the new season from the defending champions who have scored 10 goals in 2 matches plus not conceding even a single goal.
It may have been expected by some sections of the fans that the departure of 7 key players during the pre-season would suck out some strength from Bullets Reserves but that is proving to be a wrong guess.
The most decorated reserves side on the land remain highly inflammable in their new face.
New striker signed from Blantyre United, Gift Lamowa, leads the top goal scorer’s charts with three strikes in two matches and poises Monday’s opponents a real threat in this fixture.
Chrispin Mapemba’s apparent keen interest to be the leading player of the new crop in attack is another thing Mpondas must put on the back of their mind going into the one-legged cup tie.
Likely Mpondas may have picked out a few potential threats in the Reserves side but the arrival of so many addition talent that interestingly have fitted well into Chatama’s compact playing approach may fail their game plan.
Team news
Goalkeeper Maxwell Makopa is still out of action with a groin injury while his fellow custodian Joel Ngwira is now available for selection after returning to full training having missed out last week’s trip to Mponela due to a muscle injury.
This means the Ngwira, and two new keepers Austin Chirambo and Ganizani Banda are likely to be picked for tomorrow’s cup tie.
Midfielders Macray Chiwaya and Lyton Chinong’one were not seen in the penultimate training session before match day after picking minor knocks but there are possibilities they may make it in the final squad.
What the manager said
&The boys are prepared for tomorrow’s game, we have trained up to this far. I think come Monday they will be ready.
It won’t be easy. Cup games aren’t easy, it is a different ball game altogether. Mpondas are well prepared, they played their first game in the competition and won 2-1. This time i think they are geared up to get into the last 32 which is a bonus to them. They will fight hard, we will fight hard. The better team will carry the day. &
