By Nyasa Big Bullets Media
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Wedson Nyirenda says he is working to transform his side into a team where every player is capable of scoring, insisting goals should not be the sole responsibility of the strikers.
The Zambian tactician believes The People’s Team will become far more dangerous if midfielders and defenders embrace a more attack-minded approach, making the side less predictable in the final third.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s FDH Bank Premiership clash against Ekhaya FC, Nyirenda revealed that changing his players’ mindset has been one of his key priorities since taking charge.
“I think what I have found ever since I came is that the midfielders here play football just to play. They play horizontal football; they don’t play vertical football. So we are trying to change all these things so that they become goalscorers,” he said.
Nyirenda believes one of the biggest obstacles has been the long-held belief that scoring is exclusively the job of forwards.
“There is a belief, I think, a myth among the players that if you’re a midfielder, scoring is for the strikers. So now we are trying to change that mentality. Every other player should be a goalscorer because our game philosophy is that when we lose the ball, we all defend, and when we win the ball, we all attack.”
The Bullets boss stressed that his philosophy is built on collective responsibility, with every player expected to contribute at both ends of the pitch.
“So if that is the case, even the goalkeeper can be a goalscorer. I have seen that happen in my experience.
“One of my goalkeepers scored the winning goal from a drop-kick. One defender just got a touch on it, and it ended up as an own goal.
“He wanted to start a quick attack for his strikers, but it turned into a goal. So every player can score.”
Nyirenda says developing midfielders into consistent goalscorers remains a major objective as he looks to build a more dynamic and clinical Bullets side.
“We are trying to turn our midfielders into lethal goalscorers and not just ball players.”
Sunday’s encounter with Ekhaya FC will provide another opportunity for Bullets to put that philosophy into practice as they seek to return to winning ways and strengthen their challenge for the FDH Bank Premiership title.
