Age-old rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have vowed to display entertaining football  during this afternoon’s NBS Bank Charity Shield match at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

Bullets head coach Kalisto Pasuwa and his Wanderers counterpart Mark Harrison said much as they are determined to win the shield, they would also like to soothe the hearts of soccer lovers, who detest kick-and-rush football.

Bullets and Wanderers in action during the last Blantyre derby

The Blantyre-based rivals met four times last season with Bullets winning twice; in the TNM Super League first round and FDH Bank Cup semi-finals. They drew  in the Super League second round before Wanderers triumphed in the Airtel Top 8 final.

Bullets remain unbeaten in the Charity Shield, which marks the opening of the new football season, having won all the five editions since 2016.  They beat Wanderers and Silver Strikers twice apiece and triumphed against Kamuzu Barracks.

Said Pasuwa: “As Bullets, we need to go a step further than what we did the last time in terms of approach. To attack from one end of the goal to the other is something tactical; you cannot just be hitting balls and you are in the attacking third to score. We need movements and systems on how we attack in our games.”

On his part, Harrison said: “We are up for the game and we are looking forward to it. We know it will be a tough game being a derby and a preparation ahead of the Super League kickoff next week.

“We will go there and give it a 100 percent. We will try to put on a good performance and the results will follow. You can take it from me, I am not into this fast and furious football; I am into possession and entertainment. That’s what we are trying to do.”

The match will also give Bullets and Wanderers a chance to have a final assessment of their new recruits before the new season.

Bullets signed a number of new faces such as Nigerian striker Chinedu Okafor and Kenyan defenders Clyde Senaji and Collins Odhiambo. They also welcomed back diminutive midfielder Mike Mkwate from South african second-tier club Polokwane City.

Wanderers roped in the likes of midfielders Gaddie Chirwa, Christopher Kumwembe and Mphatso Kamanga alongside defender Lawrence Chaziya.

In spite of that, both sides claimed some of their players’ recent engagements in national team duties affected their preparations for the new season and have some injury worries ahead of this afternoon’s showdown.

Bullets will miss the services of injured defenders Precious Sambani and Gomezgani Chirwa. Striker Hassan Kajoke will also not be available as he is still in pre-season rest upon his return from Silver Strikers, where he had a pre-contract.

As for Wanderers, they will be without veteran striker Chiukepo Msowoya, midfielder Isaac Kaliati and goalkeeper Dalitso Nkhungwa, who are nursing injuries.

The People’s Team got the right to play in the Shield match as TNM Super League champions while the Nomads did it as Airtel Top 8 winners.

On Wednesday, NBS Bank, who are sponsoring the shield to the tune of K20 million, presented to the two teams sets of uniforms worth over K5 million.

All proceeds from the match will be used to help survivors of Tropical Cyclone Freddy in the Southern Region.

Last year’s revenue was channelled towards helping survivors of Cyclone Ana in the Lower Shire.

On match-day, standard tickets are going at K3 000 while a VIP ticket costs K10 000. Corporate box ticket is at K300 000.

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