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Bakili Bullets left without the usual pomp for Ivory Coast on Tuesday afternoon for Sunday’s Group A Caf Champions League return leg against Africa Sports.
But their former captain Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda was one of the first to wish them good luck in their Ivorian voyage.
Smartly dressed in maroon blazers, white shirts, maroon neckties and grey trousers, the 21-member delegation left the country from Lilongwe aboard South African Airways flight for the vital clash in the West African nation without Mponda who has been their driving force in their quest for the continental crown.
Mponda said on Tuesday: “I wish them good luck and this comes from deep down my heart.
“This is an important game in the sense that if they win they will brighten up their chances of making it into the semis. Of course, many would have thought that I would wish them bad lack considering the way we have parted but I have nothing personal against the team or anybody.
“I enjoyed playing for Bullets and if they do well in the Caf Champions League, I will certainly be very proud because I was part of the campaign,” said Mponda.
The gifted defender-cum-midfidelder said he is still talking to Zimbabwe’s Caps United and waiting for responses from a top Russian club as well as another big local club which have expressed serious interests to get him on board.
He also said the issue surrounding his dues with Bullets is still being discussed.
“It is not true that I was paid my dues as the vice general secretary Ibrahim Patel claimed in the press, the issue is still being pursued,” he said.
Apart from Mponda, the Bullets travelled without their youthful left back Chiku Kanyenda who is nursing a serious ankle injury. Other notable faces that have been dropped are goalkeeper Trust Lunda and defenders Ian Mhura and Grey Nyirenda.
The team also left without a Fam official as is supposed to be the case. Bullets general secretary Ophman Kondowe who is leading the delegation said the association did not provide them with any name.
Following is the full squad that left yesterday: Officials: Ophman Kondowe (team leader), Kinnah Phiri (coach), Gilbert Chirwa (assistant coach), Meke Mwase (team manager), Mphatso Phiri (team doctor); players: Swadick Sanudi, Kachibowo Malunga, Petrus Mwalweni (C), Joseph Gatros, Wisdom Ndlovu, Maupo Msowoya, Fundi Akidu, James Chilapondwa, Rahim Ishmail, Emmanuel Chipatala, Fischer Kondowe, Robert Ng’ambi, Grant Lungu, Mapopa Musukwa, Dick Malidadi and Jimmy Zakazaka.
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