Stage set for epic Blantyre derby

Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Be Forward Wanderers epitomize Malawi’s football and their peak, they will seek to write a new chapter in Malawi’s derby annals today at the soccer Mecca Kamuzu Stadium.

So brace yourself for the biggest domestic fixture in football!

The Blantyre derby is on this afternoon and you can hear the Kamuzu stadium purring in anticipation of another high octane, no holds barred, all out brawl between two juggernauts of Malawi’s football.

The rivalry Between Big Bullets and Wanderers is one of the fiercest in history, such that most of their meetings are epic battles.

Big Bullets may be threatening to have a clear path against their opponents but certainly they know that they should expect their clash with the Nomads to be anything less than grueling.

The People’s Team league and cup dominance over the recent years has slowly chipped away at Wanderers’ pride who will use this opportunity to land a few punches of their own.

The very first Blantyre derby between Franco Ndawa and Jack Chamangwana as opposing managers beckons.

Both teams are known for their strategy of appointing a novice manager in their club ex-players, and both managers will be hoping to convince their club hierarchy that they can lead their teams to silverware.

As for Ndawa, his first Blantyre derby would go a long way to doing just that. After all Chamagwana has accomplished with Wanderers, the prospect of Ndawa outsmarting him in the tactical battle is fascinating.

When you think of Bullets, you think of their famed Banyamulengi reserve team, the bedrock of their success.

However, over the past twelve years the People’s Team have gone in a different direction in shelling out millions to sign a lot of elite players John Lanjesi, Emmanuel Zoya, Mussa Manyenje and Muhamad Sulumba to co-accompany Chiukepo Msowoya upfront and they once put together one of the devastating attacks in Super League comprising Manyenje, Msowoya and Chande, in short the CMM trident.

After the departure of Chande to Wanderers and the arrival of Sulumba from Blantyre United, the People’s Team has now turned to MMS trident.

The Nomads responded with an attacking triumvirate of their own when they splurged on Amos Bello from Nigeria to join Jabulani Linje and Luke Milanzi upfront and form BLM attacking trio.

Blantyre derby is a grand occasion and it’s only fitting that it is being graced by a great duel in Malawi’s Super League.

Chiukepo and Bello’s battle for supremacy epitomises the rivalry between the two sides and will invariably peak when the two superstars share the same pitch.

This is not just the game, it is more than that. It is a sour dispute that has been there for decades, this is an occasion when dreams come true and nightmares are brought.

Millions around the country will tune in for Malawi’s most glamorous tie.