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| Sports |
| BB gear up for Zanaco |
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by
Garry Chirwa, 30 March 2004
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15:47:58
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Bakili Bullets have stepped on the gas pedal in preparation for next weekend’s explosive Caf Champions League second round first leg against Zambia’s champions Zanaco by proposing two build-up matches against either South Africa’s Wits University or Caps United of Zimbabwe.
Bullets’ mentor Kinnah ‘Electric’ Phiri said on Tuesday that the coaching panel has proposed to the executive that the team needs to play at least one or two international friendlies before they raid Zambia’s capital Lusaka next week.
“It’s very important that we should play at least two international friendly games to measure our strength before we take on Zanaco. And we have proposed that Wits University would be an ideal side for the tests because they are doing well in the South African Premier League and they are also participating in a Caf tournament,” said Kinnah.
He also said Zimbabwe’s Caps United comes in as a second option should Wits turn down the request.
“Caps can also give us a good test because they are doing quite well in the Zimbabwean top league and they were already on our plans for friendly matches,” said Kinnah, adding that he would love if the friendly matches would be played away.
The team’s vice treasurer Kondi Msungama said on Tuesday that the executive had already endorsed the coaching panel’s request but was only waiting for responses from the two clubs.
“We have already written both Wits and Caps and we are only waiting for their responses which should be in our in-trays by close of business today (Wednesday),” said Msungama.
He also said that an Angolan top league side Luanda Benfica is waiting in the wings should requests for friendlies against the two clubs fail to materialise.
“If it doesn’t work out with both Wits and Caps then we might just stop over in Angola on our way to Zambia for a friendly match against Luanda Benfica,” said Msungama.
He further explained that one of the club’s trustee, Yusuf Matumula who is also the link between the club and their sponsor President Bakili Muluzi, has already been informed about the developments.
Msungama said the trip to Zambia will cost the team about K5 million ($46,729) and as usual they are keeping their fingers crossed that Muluzi will once again bank roll the team. |
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