The Lilongwe derby between Silver Strikers and Civil Service United in the 2025 Pachema FDH Bank Cup semi-finals will be served hot at Bingu National Stadium this afternoon.
Potentially, the clash between the two sides in the Capital City will live up to its expectations.
But the two sides will meet each other in the 2025 Pachema FDH Bank Cup this afternoon in blistering form.
Straight from their Caf Champions League exit following 2-1 loss to Young Africans (Yanga) Sports Cup on aggregate, Silver will be hoping for a change in fortunes in the FDH Bank Cup.
Civil, on the other hand, will go into the derby with a spring in their step having gone 15 matches unbeaten in all competitions.
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There is plenty to play for in this match.
A place in the FDH Bank Cup final is at stake. Additionally, capital city bragging rights are also at stake. This will be the third meeting between the two teams this season.
But Silver have won both derbies this year. Silver defeated Civil 2-0 in the TNM Super League before a 2-1 victory in the Airtel Top 8 semi-finals at the same venue.
The Central Bankers seek to make it three unbeaten against Civil this season whereas the ‘civil servants’ want to stop Silver’s run.
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It promises to be an exciting derby this afternoon.
Silver coach Peter Mgangira said his charges will be looking to continue their dominance over their rivals.
“We need to go into the match with good altitude. We should not feel on top of the world after playing in Caf Champions League, so we have to tread carefully,” Mgangira said.
The former Flames midfielder wants to guide Silver to his second consecutive cup final after they lost in the Airtel Top 8 final to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets following a 4-3 defeat on post-match penalties.
Mgangira said his charges have garnered experience playing in Caf competition.
“We will likely have an edge over Civil because of experience of playing in the Caf competition. The confidence among the players is high,” he said.
The Central Bankers have assembled a strong squad built on discipline and creativity.
Their possession based football popularly known as umodzi umodzi can cause plenty of problems to opponents. They have a good goalkeeper, George Chikooka, who is good with both his hands and feet.
At the back, MacDonald Lameck, Maxwell Paipi, Nickson Mwase and Dan Sandukira have formed a rock solid defence with captain Chikondi Kamanga and man of the moment Uchizi Vunga pulling the strings in midfield.
Upfront, Mgangira is likely to trust Andrew Joseph and Stain Davie.
Civil coach Abasi Makawa said his charges are seething with rage to exact revenge.
“We have lost two games to Silver so we are desperate for a win. We want it more than them,” he said.
Makawa is determined to guide Civil to their first ever FDH Bank Cup final.
Civil have gone 10 consecutive years without winning a trophy.
But Makawa said his troops were eager to break the FDH Bank Cup jinx.
“We are not punching bags of Silver. We are going there to fight to prove that we are also a big team,” he said.
Civil have formed a strong squad. Their squad is built on team work like a swarm of bees.
Civil have one of the best goalkeepers in domestic football John Rahman. The defence comprising Damiano Kunje, Peter Ng’ambi, Charles Mafaiti and John Dambuleni is also solid. Yankho Biliati has been brilliant in midfield this season with Dastin Banda, Muhamad Biason and Chikaiko Batison forming a dangerous combination upfront.
Civil defeated Mchinji Villa 2-1 in the quarterfinals whereas Silver thrashed Blue Eagles 3-0. The winner between Silver and Civil will face either FCB Nyasa Big Bullets or Mighty Wanderers, who will meet in another semi-final at Kamuzu Stadium tomorrow.
The champions will pocket K35 million plus a glittering trophy.
