Nyasa Big Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa has named a strong 24-member squad for Friday’s CAF Champions League first round, first-leg clash against AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa.
The Zimbabwean left Lilongwe on Wednesday with a squad comprising seasoned players such as ex-Orlando Pirates striker Chiukepo Msowoya and Nigerian international Babatunde Adepoju and up-and-coming Hassan Kajoke, Mischeck Selemani, Paul Kansungwi and Blessings Mpokera.
National team midfielder Chimwemwe Idana, goalkeeper Ernest Kakhobwe and defender Gomezgani Chirwa will join Bullets squad right in South Africa after playing in the World Cup qualifier against Mozambique at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
However, the former Warriors mentor is quoted telling The Daily Times newspaper of Malawi that he has limited knowledge about the pedigree of the Benni McCarthy-led AmaZulu.
“We have little knowledge of the opponent. We would have opted for more but it is beyond our control. We will just try to use the little knowledge we have,” Pasuwa is quoted saying.
Bullets go into Friday’s match having enjoyed a rare two-week break following a marathon of fixtures that included their participation in the Cecafa Kagame Cup in Tanzania last week.
Two weeks ago, Pasuwa bemoaned the fixture jam saying it was affecting his charges in the domestic league and cup campaigns.
“The boys have been playing football and I am very afraid of the [stand-in] captain of the team [Chimwemwe Idana] who has been playing games since COSAFA Cup without a proper rest.
“He is still playing [and] when others are resting for two weeks, he will be involved with the national team and CAF games. We need to do something in order to manage him so that we can have fresh legs when we play Amazulu in two weeks’ time,” Pasuwa told Bullets official website.
Pasuwa should be looking forward to better results for Bullets who will host AmaZulu at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on September 18 2021 in the second leg.
The Zimbabwean has won back-to-back league titles since joining Bullets in 2018 and his team is on course to earning him a treble as they hold a three-point lead at the top of the domestic league.
However, Bullets have not translated their form in the continental league as they lost 3-2 in Zimbabwe to FC Platinum after having managed a goalless draw in Blantyre in the first round in 2019.
Bullets are Malawi’s biggest club in terms of fan-base— estimated at 6 million and trophies—and unprecedented 14 league titles ahead of Silver Striker’s eight and six for Wanderers.
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