By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPostĺ)-Sports fraternity in Mchinji and neighboring Zambia, Mozambique today Sunday 24th September 2023 will have a privilege to patronize first ever Blantyre derby to be played in the Central Region to be specific Mchinji district.
The two reserve sides FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers are set to fight for a semifinal slot in the K5 million Dimba Trophy this afternoon to complete the semifinalist.
St. Gabriel Zitha FC, Santhe ADMARC FC and Kawinga FC already qualified into the semifinals.
The winner between the two Blantyre based sides will meet St. Gabriel Zitha FC.
Prior to this afternoon game, the two reserve sides had met in two duels.
Bullets defeated Wanderers 3-0 in the SRFA Thumbs Up on 4 June 2023 while the blues won 2-1 on 28th October 2022 in Blantyre City Council International Youth Day Commemoration.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers RSV FC are playing in the cup for the first time.
Assistant coach for Wanderers Safarao Pompi said they have prepared well for the encounter and they are not afraid of Bullets Reserve.
“We are all equally good sides, indeed you can’t demean a derby but I am upbeat by the end of the day we will be victors”, s0aid Pompi.
Enos Chatama Bullets Reserve coach expects a tough match against their city rivals this afternoon.
“We have not been doing well in the past games but Blantyre derby has got its own hype in which every team gets set for such matches. It’s true we have managed to register single win from 4 games played in the second round but that doesn’t mean the boys are not putting up superb performance. We are only lacking composure and marksmanship upfront”.
“On Sunday we will start on a high note from first whistle to the end, we respect Wanderers they are a good team and every game is tough but not impossible. Five key players on injury list but that doesn’t stand as an excuse as we have several replacements”, Chatama said.
The two sides are having mixed fortunes in the Southern Region Football Association league (SRFA) Thumbs Up though in their recent games they both shared spoils.
On September 19, 2023 Bullets were held to a 1-1 draw by Ntopwa while on 20th September Tigers Reserve held the Nomads 2-2.
