FCB Nyasa Bullets will start their chase for a second cup this afternoon as they clash with Civil Service United in Airtel Top 8 quarter-finals first leg at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
Straight from their FDH Bank Cup victory and still in partying mood, Bullets will be hoping to start the campaign on a high note in the two-legged tie.
But playing away to Civil has always been a tricky fixture for Bullets and Coach Kallisto Pasuwa is aware that this afternoon’s tie is not different.
The Zimbabwean tactician said they had put behind their FDH Bank Cup success and are concentrating on the Airtel Top 8 fixture.
“As a coach, my mind is already thinking about the Airtel Top 8 Cup match. I would also advise the players to do the same because we have more games coming up and we need to remain focused so that we get something out of these games,” he said.
The last encounter between the two sides was a five-goal thriller as Bullets came from two goals down to defeat the Lilongwe giants 3-2 in the league.
Unlike in the first round match when the two sides settled for stalemate, in the second round match it rained goals.
In that match, Bullets’ porous defence was exposed as they conceded two quick goals from Luke Chima and Binwell Katinji within five minutes in the first-half.
Bullets supporters endured a tormenting first-half as the hosts trailed 2-0 courtesy of the two quick goals from Luke Chima and Binwell Katinji.
A missed penalty by Lanjesi Nkhoma in the 38th minute compounded the Blantyre-based giants’ situation.
But Bullets used their experience to reduce the deficit through Nkhoma before substitute Ephraim Kondowe levelled. Then Patrick Mwaungulu won it for Bullets in the dying minutes.
So painful was the defeat and no wonder Civil will be hoping to exact revenge as they host Bullets at their backyard.
But still Civil assistant coach Wilson Chidati said though ready for the battle, they are not reading much into what happened in the last match or that they are playing at home.
He said: “We will just play our game. Yes, we are at home but it does not make a difference.
“It’s a two-legged tie. Even if we score as many goers as possible they will also have their home advantage and can do the same.
“So what is important is to just go and play our game to win and the players are aware of that.”
Civil are coming from back to back 1-0 losses to rivals Silver Strikers and Moyale Barracks in the league, but managed to wallop rookies Mgwirizano 5-0 in Castel Challenge Cup round of 64.
