Mwalala In Nolstagic Return To Dar With Fired Up Bandari

DAR ES SAALAM, Tanzania- Bernard Mwalala is undoubtedly a man who knows a thing or two about Tanzanian football having become a household name at record league winners Yanga SC where he played for two seasons.

To him, the 2019 SportPesa Cup can be compared to the Internet sensation ‘10 year challenge’ having returned to the nation he was revered as the head coach of Kenyan Bandari FC since he last kicked a football there in 2009.

The 2018 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) runner-ups arrived at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in the small hours of Sunday morning, having connected from their base in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

As he led his team to file past passport control and immigration, Mwalala took a few moments when he was cleared to enter the country to soak in familiar surroundings as nostalgic memories past as he bid to make big news in Tanzania once more.

Weary from the exhausting coast to coast journey, Mwalala and his charges looked worse for wear but the only thing that put a shine on their faces is their determination to win a first ever title in the eight-team invitational competition.

Incidentally, the Dockers will be the first of eight teams to line up in the tournament on Tuesday (January 22) from 2:15pm local time (+3GMT) with Mwalala promising a good performance.

Having beaten Posta Rangers 1-0 barely a day ahead of their departure in the SPL to consolidate second spot on 18 points, two ahead of leaders Mathare United FC with the side below them, Kariobangi Sharks FC who arrived in the earlier for the third edition of the SP.

“I have a played in Tanzania before and I know what expect since I have experienced their football. I cannot divulge my plans but I can state we have been building, we are becoming stronger as a team,” the former Nzoia United FC stated at the Airport.

Nothing less

Having arrived deep in the night, thereby escaping the sometime chocking Dar traffic jam, Mwalala urged his players to aim nothing less than leaving Dar with the cup after the July 27 final on their SP Cup debut when they face Singida United FC at the National Main Stadium in Dar.

“Playing against Everton is already motivation for players to aim for being scouted by European clubs. All the eight teams that are here are aware of the importance of playing in this tournament

and winning it,” Mwalala who had eight international caps for national team Harambee Stars highlighted.

His impending arrival garnered huge interest in Dar having played a part in shaping one of the fiercest derbies in Africa when his Yanga side met the old enemy and cross town rivals, Simba SC.

“I’m not a visitor here, I will use my experience to lead my boys on the tactics and other things they expect here and to their credit, they adapted to my methods first. We are ready to fight for this title based on how I have prepared the team,” the tactician who took over mid last season after he left Nzoia, leading the Dockers to finish behind SPL champions and two-time SP Cup winners, Gor Mahia FC, a record for the club that was formed in 1985.

Bandari will be featuring at the invitational knockout tournament for the first time in pursuit for a first trophy since they lifted the 2015 domestic cup where they knocked out Gor in the semis before thumping Nakumatt FC (now Mt. Kenya United FC) 4-2 in the gold medal match.

With media obligations over, Mwalala and his team were raced to their hotel in Dar’s Central Business District under tight security escorted by an outrider and a truck full of armed officers.

Captain Felly Lumumba and the SPL Defender of the Year arrived before his teammates having chosen to use the road with his team expected to train later Sunday in the afternoon.

AFC Leopards SC were the first Kenyan side to check in on Saturday morning with holders Gor expected in the early hours of Monday.

Mbao FC, who like Bandari are also making their maiden SP Cup round off the invited teams to the third running of the competition where the winner will bag USD10,000 besides the thing they are all here for, hosting Everton on their second tour to East Africa.