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Wanderers, Bullets gun for Carlsberg rematch
by Garry Chirwa, 13 June 2003 - 13:32:58
With all the relish of explosive experts, Red Lions have sworn to pick off their former coach Franco Ndawa and his new side MTL Wanderers Saturday afternoon at the giant Chichiri Stadium and take wing to the K12 million Carlsberg Cup finals.
Ndawa’s move from the Lions den in Zomba to Lali Lubani Road last year was considered a huge leap but nobody dumps the army and expect to get away with it. Those are the bold words from Cobbe Barracks.
He guided the soldiers to the semis of the same showpiece last year in which they were shot down 1-0 by Total Big Bullets (now Bakili Bullets) but the Lions’ general secretary Captain Andrew Kaziputa said their artillery pieces are on red alert to blast their former mentor and the nomads and fly on to the finals.
“It will be quite interesting to face our former coach, apparently he is now an opponent and we are ready primed to blast him and his team off.
“Having reached the semis last year, obviously we are now focused on taking a step forward and that is reaching the finals. We will take Wanderers head on tomorrow,” declared Kaziputa on Friday.
Apparently that’s the sort of talk you expect from a soldier—tough jazz!
The Lions’ coach James Liwonde has all the weapons to carry the day this afternoon. The tournament’s current runaway top scorer Yohane Fulaye who has five goals in the bag, is most likely to lead the soldiers’ raid.
Skilled and experienced midfielder Wilfred Nyalugwe, a creature of composure, who doubles as assistant coach, will as he usually does, be at the heart of their best moves this afternoon with Patrick Fologonya, Frank Phiri, Kevin Katema, Sekile Chitete and Franco Ndau injecting energy and vibrancy.
International Lackson Mtambo and John Kathumba will marshal the backline.
On the other hand, nomads’ vocal team manager Walter Nyamilandu also declared that his team will easily march on to the finals.
“Oh yes! We are playing at home as opposed to playing in Zomba. The onus is on us to carry the day.
“We are by far a stronger side compared to Red Lions, we just have to be focused. We have respect for them, they are soldiers who play a physical game but the pressure is on them,” said Nyamilandu whose side has beaten the soldiers twice (2-0 and 3-2) in league matches this season.
He also said the controversy that surrounded the whereabouts of their youthful playmakers Joseph Kamwendo and Gift Makoloni who went missing last week, has since been cleared.
“They are around and they will be out to prove to the fans that their loyalty is to the nomads...they will want to prove that they belong to Lali Lubani Road,” said Nyamilandu.
He also boasted that the coaches will have a tough task to select the best 11 from a squad of 30 that has been undergoing intensive training in preparation for the game.
In another semifinal clash dubbed David and Goliath affair, defending champions Bakili Bullets take on Chilomoni Rangers at the same venue on Sunday.
Bullets need no introduction really—apart from being the current holders of the cup, they are also chasing a fifth successive league title which looks certain. They also boast of massive contribution to the Flames with seven players plus the coach Gilbert Chirwa.
The names are all familiar—from combative winger and captain Fischer ‘Anon’ga’ Kondowe to exciting Rahim Ishmail, from slippery Grant Lungu to enterprising Robert ‘Baggio’ Ng’ambi and then from the deadly snake Ganizani ‘M’bobo’ Malunga to jet fighter James Chilapondwa.
But Rangers coach McDonald ‘Nginde’ Mtetemera said on Friday that his charges will not be intimidated by the Bullets’ edifice of history.
“They will certainly not have an easy ride...they will have to sweat to get into the finals, my boys know the importance of this game and they will fight to the end,” said Mtetemera.
Rangers’ guiding lights include lanky striker Nelson Chimalizeni, Clement Mandala, John ‘Andolo’ Zilinde, Kennedy ‘Zizou’ Tsekeleza and Michael Lungu.
 
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