Preview: Bullets, Civo in titanic battle

Malawi’s Standard Bank Cup Knockout semi-final fixtures are here once again as Big Bullets takes on unpredictable Civo Service United at Kamuzu Stadium on Mother’s Day holiday.

Bullets will be looking forward to reach the finals of the cup for the first time since losing to Moyale Barracks in the 2008 finals.

Their league form has been outstanding. They have played 17 games without testing defeat and are comfortably sitting at the summit of the table with 41 points.

However, a cup game is different from a league game. Bullets were in fine form when they played Be Forward Wanderers in the finals of Carlsberg Cup in August at Civo Stadium but they eventually lost the match 2-1.

On paper, they are the favourites but their technical director knows how dangerous it is to underestimate the civil servants.

“It will not be an easy ride for us. I watched Civo over the weekend, it’s a very good side and we expect them to give us a good game. We are not underestimating them but we are optimistic of sailing through to the finals of the cup.

“Our boys are ready though we are having some serious injury concerns but we are ready to send them packing,” he said.

Bullets will be welcoming back Sankhani Mkandawire, Bashir Maunde and Chiukepo Msowoya who had been out of action due to injuries.

On their part, Civo United through their general secretary Rashid Mtelera says playing against Bullets was their wish and they are ready to show them the exit door.

“We always play well against teams like Bullets and trust me we are going to send them packing. This is the type of a fixture we have been looking for so I am very happy that we are playing them at their own backyard,” he said.

The last time the two teams met in a cup game was in 2013 when Patrick Gunde scored the only goal to send Civo into the semi-finals of the Presidential Cup.

The last time they played each other in a league match, the game ended 2-1 in favour of Bullets.

The other semi-final match will be between Mighty Wanderers and Blue Eagles at Civo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

This year’s winner will walk away with a trophy plus cash worth K10 million.