Giants FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have become the first big team to take part in the Sapitwa 4 Football bonanza slated for later this month.
This year’s tournament will attract three new sides including newly promoted TNM Super League side Ekhaya FC and Central Region outfit Creck Sporting Club.
The third edition of the tournament will take place at its traditional venue, Mulanje Park Stadium, on March 22 and 23 after the facility successfully hosted the first and second editions of the competition in 2023 and 2024.
The competition’s lead organiser Chimwemwe Nyirenda, who is also Super League of Malawi Executive Member, said they had organised the tournament to prepare for the upcoming Malawi 2025 football season.
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“We have organised the tournament to create a platform for TNM Super League sides to fully prepare for the upcoming soccer season by playing against fellow elite league teams.
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“At the same time, we will give a chance to football supporters to watch pre-season soccer matches and also promote Mulanje District as a hot tourism destination,” he said.
Nyirenda said they would conduct a draw to determine teams that would play the first and second matches on Saturday, March 22, and which teams would be the “home” sides.
“The two winning teams on Saturday will play the second match on Sunday, March 23, while losers will play the first match,” he said.
He said organisers had put in place unique rules to preserve the status of the competition.
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“To encourage teams to score more goals, a scoring draw will earn teams points each; a goalless draw earns two points. Fans love penalties; so, to increase the excitement and uniqueness of these matches, each game will have a penalty shoot-out and the winner of the penalty shoot-out will accumulate a bonus one point.
“So, we have four points for a straight win, three points for a score-draw and two points for a goalless draw,” he said.
The first tournament was held in 2023 and participating teams were Bangwe All Stars, Dedza Dynamos, Tigers and Red Lions.
Bangwe emerged champions.
The second edition took place in 2024, with Bangwe, Tigers, Dedza Dynamos and Fomo competing.
Bangwe emerged winners.
Meanwhile, Bullets acting Chief Administration Officer Albert Chigoga has confirmed the People’s Team’s participation in the tournament.
“Yes, we are participating [in the matches]. As a preseason bonanza, it will give us a good test of how prepared we are for the new season,” Chigoga said.
