Nyasa Big Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa faces probably the most ironic moment of his Malawi career in Sunday’s FA Cup equivalent.
The Zimbabwean Pasuwa leads the all-conquering Bullets into the FDH Cup final against their reserve side at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Bullets compete in the elite TNM Super League, whereas the reserve side plays in the second-tier regional league. However, the cup is open to all teams; hence, the family affair.
PASUWA PLAYING PHILOSOPHY
The TNM Super League champions share players, training pitch, colours, fans and playing philosophy with their reserves.
Therefore, Bullets reserve might not be Pasuwa’s toughest opponent, but the boys know too much about the Zimbabwean’s tactics.
Pasuwa does not need a reminder that the last meeting with the reserve side in the same competition ended in a draw in regulation time last year.
The senior side needed post-match penalties to break the resistance of the second-tier Southern league champions.
“Yeah, a very big warning to us. If you saw that game [last season], they dominated in most of the areas,” Pasuwa told the press on Friday.
Pasuwa is wary of the fact that the reserve side knocked out three elite teams—Blue Eagles, Red Lions and Mighty Tigers—on their march to the final.
“Very interesting, but maybe one thing, it’s no longer a reserve side because those boys are there [in the cup final] by no fluke,” he said.
STERN WARNING
If Pasuwa needed a stern warning that the boys will not come with hats in their hands, reserve team coach Enos Chatama delivered it in abundance.
” I think the boys are ready. They know that history can be made, Bullets haven’t lost this year,” Chatama said.
“We will be the first team to beat them, and it can be a historic moment for football in Malawi.”
The battle will also descend to the individual level, with senior team striker Babatunde Adepoju out to consolidate his Golden Boot Award chase.
The Nigerian has three goals in the national cup and faces competition from reserve team striker Chikumbutso Salima.
Bullets will be without left-back Precious Sambani and right-back Gomezgani Chirwa who is injured alongside striker Lanjesi Nkhoma.
Bullets are undefeated in the Super League and are marching to their fourth consecutive title defence under Pasuwa.
On Sunday, the unthinkable might happen but what is certain is that Bullets will win.
