Zambia’s national football team is better known all over the world as Chipolopolo or Copper Bullets, but it is in Malawi where a club goes out with that name.
That club, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, is now in Zambia where it wants to show football lovers in the neighbouring country that, at that level, the name is rightfully theirs.
Bullets safely landed at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka Thursday afternoon aboard a Malawi Airlines plane that flew them from Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe.
On their minds is a second leg Caf Champions League preliminary round match against Zambian champions Red Arrows at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka Saturday.
The People’s Team carries a 2-1 advantage into the crunching tie and only needs a draw to go through and book a date with five-team continental champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bullets acting Chief Executive Officer Albert Chigoga said they have a full squad.
Chigoga said the squad includes midfield kingpin Lloyd Aaron, who picked an injury on Wednesday night in Bullets’ 3-1 win over Moyale in an FDH Bank Cup semifinal at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
“We just arrived in Lusaka. The team is in confident mood. It is not going to be easy for us. But it is not supposed to be easy anyway. It is a Champions League match. We will hold the bull by its horns. Aaron is fine and we have a full squad here,” Chigoga said.
Midfielder Yankho Singo and defender Clyde Senaji were also doubtful after picking injuries against Arrows on Sunday.
The encounter against the Mzuzu-based soldiers was tough and left Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa with injury concerns.
“My plea is that, as Bullets, we are representing the country in the Caf Champions League. So it is not on to be playing matches after three days. I have been complaining about injuries in my camp. We played on Sunday and a local game comes on Wednesday. Then on Saturday a match against Red Arrows in Zambia.
“This makes life difficult for us as coaches. I am not saying it’s wrong or what. But just imagine we are told our game will start at five o’clock. We come at three o’clock and we are inside here for more than three hours for a game starting at half past five. This is a big cup and we need to be very professional in our approach,” Pasuwa said.
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