Africa-Press – Malawi. The 2-0 loss that Nyasa Big Bullets suffered against Simba SC of Tanzania has not dampened spirits in the TNM Super League defending champions’ camp ahead of departure for the return match on Sunday.
Simba outplayed Bullets in the Caf Champions League match played at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday. The result means Bullets must register a 3-0 win in the return match scheduled for Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The People’s Team leaves Lilongwe for the port city Friday with the same squad that played second fiddle to the East Africans. Bullets Chief Administration Officer Albert Chigoga said they believe winning in Dar es Salaam is possible.
“We have seen teams turning tables in such matches and we choose to remain positive. Our coaching panel has done its job in training and the players are full of confidence. The players might have been playing under pressure in front of their home fans during the first leg but things will be different on Sunday.
“There will be no pressure in Dar es Salaam and the players will play their game. We expect Simba to be complacent in the return match and we are working on surprising them. They came here and scored two goals and we are confident that it is possible for us to do the same at their backyard,” Chigoga said.
However, football analyst and player scout Felix Ngamanya Sapao said Bullets need to strengthen their midfield. “Bullets need a defensive midfielder whose main job is to protect the defence. This is the player who stabilises the game. They also need a box-to-box midfielder who adds numbers in both attack and defence.
“Contrary to what some analysts have been saying lately, Bullets are good in defence. All they need is a strong midfield that is well balanced. A good left sided midfielder to link up with left back Precious Sambani would also be a great addition. I have seen them using a striker in that position and this has not helped them,” Ngamanya Sapao said.
He said Bullets need more versatile players if they are to become a complete team capable of producing results in continental competitions. “For example, Patrick Mwaungulu is doing well as a right midfielder and they need someone to complement him on the left. Football is about having the right players in the right positions. Bullets needed to find such players before the first leg. They cannot do this now since the transfer window is already closed,” Ngamanya Sapao said.
The People’s Team is in its fourth consecutive Caf Champions League appearance and is hoping to go beyond the preliminary round for the first time since 2004 when it went all the way to the group stages.
Bullets started last year’s edition of the elite continental club competition with a 1-0 win over South African side AmaZulu in Durban but went down 3-1 in the return match to get booted out on a 3-2 aggregate.
In two previous editions, Bullets were booted out by Gor Mahia of Kenya and Zimbabwe’s Chicken Inn in the same round. Simba boast of a competitive squad comprising 12 foreign players with eight different sponsors.
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