The wait is over! The anticipation has filled the football fraternity as the 2025 TNM Super League rolls into life this afternoon.
The setting is the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Reigning TNM Super League champions Silver Strikers start their title defence against former champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
It is a marathon of 240 matches to be played for a period of nine months with each team playing 30 games; 15 home and 15 away.
But there will be one winner at the end of the season.
Interestingly, Bullets and Silver have dominated the league since it was introduced in 1986.
Bullets have won 17 titles including five on the bounce whereas Silver, on the other hand, have won nine Super League titles.
Their records in the league set the pace for a thrilling season.
Mighty Wanderers have six titles.
Silver and Bullets last met in the season opener in 2023 which ended in a 1-1 stalemate at the same venue.
There is a lot to play for in this league opener.
It will be a match of egos as Bullets Coach Peter Mponda faces his former assistant Peter Mgangira for the first time.
The pair were together for one season and helped the club end Bullets’ five-year dominance in the TNM Super League last season.
But Mponda returned to his boyhood club just two weeks after the victory.
It was Silver’s first league title in 11 years.
On the other hand, Mgangira would want to prove a point that he was the right person for the job.
The rivalry between the two clubs is the kind of stuff that many people would fall in love with in this epic encounter.
Silver head into the fixture with a spring in their step after clinching the 2025 NBS Bank Charity Shield following a 5-3 post-match victory over Mighty Wanderers at the same venue.
Bullets, on the other hand, warmed up for the league opener with a 2-1 victory in a friendly match over Blue Eagles at Aubrey Dimba Stadium.
Both teams have bolstered their respective squads, with Silver signing strikers Emmanuel Allan, Samuel Adeyemi, midfielders Festus Duwe, Felix Demakude and defender Precious Sambani, who will face his former club.
On the part of Bullets, they have signed defenders Andrew Juvinala, Chikumbutso Henderson, Blessings Joseph and Henry Chiwaya.
Sounding calm and composed, Mgangira said his charges were set to start the title defence on a high.
“We expect a tough match as usual. The stakes are high so we have to double our efforts,” Mgangira said.
Mgangira has the spine that won the title. Goalkeeper George Chikooka, Maxwell Paipi, Chimwemwe Idana and Binwell Katinji are available for the match.
Bullets Coach Peter Mponda admitted that it would not be a stroll in the park against the champions.
“Silver have a very good team so we expect a very difficult match. But it is a chance for the players to prove their worth,” he said.
Mponda has quality at his disposal such as Babatunde Adepoju, Clyde Senaji, Mike Mkwate, Lloyd Aaron and Maxwell Phodo.
Elsewhere, Mafco will face Chitipa United at Chitowe Stadium whereas Ekhaya will meet Mighty Tigers.
Meanwhile, TNM plc sponsors of the league, said all is set for the relaunch.
The company’s chief commercial officer Amon Jere told journalists yesterday that they have lined up several activities to spice up the kick of the 2025 season.
“We are committed to continue sponsoring the league to develop football. We have more exciting incentives this season,” Jere said.
In a related development, TNM announced that player-of-the-match in each of the 240 matches will be pocketing K100,000.
Sulom Vice President Ronald Chiwaula hailed TNM for sponsoring the league for 18 years.
TNM sponsors the league for K500 million per season.
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