The stage is set for the launch of the third edition of the Ibongetse Castel Challenge Cup at the newly inaugurated Nsanje Community Centre Ground this coming Saturday.
Activities to mark the launch of the competition include a ceremonial match between Nsanje District sworn rivals Umodzi and Nsanje Medicals.
Official matches in the preliminary round at district and regional levels are also expected to start this weekend.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said all was set for the rollout of the biggest cup competition in the country.
“We can confirm that we are going to the Shire Valley to unveil this year’s competition.
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“In 2023, we were in Rumphi in the Northern Region while last year, we went to Mponela [Dowa District] in the Central Region.
“Now, we are going to the Southern Region and we thought of no other place than Nsanje Youth Centre, which Fam rehabilitated recently,” Zakazaka said.
Castel Head of Product Development and Marketing Strategy Frank Binauli said the company was looking forward to an exciting competition this year.
“We celebrate more than just football; we celebrate passion, unity and the spirit of competition that connects communities across Malawi,” Binauli said.
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The Castel Challenge Cup will be played in two phases, namely preliminary and national phase.
The preliminary round will be divided into three Phases: District, Regional Leagues and Regional Playoffs.
In the District Preliminary Phase, teams will compete in their respective districts to determine a district champion to qualify for the Regional Playoffs.
Regional League teams, both Premier and Division One, will play in knockout regional leagues preliminary matches in their respective regions to come up with five teams that will qualify for the regional playoffs. Each region will produce five teams that will qualify for the Regional Playoffs.
In the regional playoffs, the district champions and qualified regional league teams will join National Division League teams in their respective regions for playoffs to come up with 16 teams that join the 16 Super League teams in the national phase.
Mighty Wanderers are the champions, having defeated Mzuzu City Hammers 1-0 during last year’s final at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
