It is that time of the football calendar where two Capital City giants fight for Fisd Challenge Cup honours.
Police side Blue Eagles and Silver Strikers fight for the city’s bragging rights in what on paper is expected to be a final before the final match of the cup, at least to Lilongwe soccer fans considering what is at stake.
With Civo Stadium their battlefield this afternoon, Lilongwe city heavyweights are expected to sort each other out, blow by blow, sword by sword. Is it the right time for the Police to arrest the Bankers or the Area 47 based side will evade arrest on the day? The answer will be at the end of 90 minutes.
Surely, there will be no love lost between the two Lilongwe giants as they battle for K20 million ultimate prize in the most lucrative trophy on the land.
In a neutral territory, both sides enter the field with confidence having enjoyed rich vein of form in recent matches.
Both teams must find better tactics to overcome each other and hope to qualify for the finals of the competition. Silver and Eagles also met last year in the Airtel Top 8 Cup semifinal but the Area 30 based side triumphed 1-0 at the same venue. In the league this season, Eagles beat Silver 2-1 in the first round before a 1-1 draw in the second round.
As usual, fireworks are expected this afternoon as the rivalry between Silver and Eagles is growing in recent years. The match is also special Eagles’ impressive run in all competitions this season will come under heavy scrutiny as Silver have enough experience at this stage.
Statistics show that Eagles and Silver have been mean in this competition having conceded few goals in open play. With the Airtel Top Cup, already in their bag this season, Silver will be gunning for the second silverware whereas Eagles will be looking for the first this year.
For Silver, they missed the chance to win the Fisd Challenge Cup last year after they lost 3-2 to Be Forward Wanderers at Bingu National Stadium.
Eagles’ technical director, Christopher Sibale, believes his troops have the right mentality to overcome the Bankers in today’s crunch match.
“We know Silver had sleepless nights focusing on us but that is in vain. They have wasted their time and we will deal with them today. We cannot afford to lose the match because we want the cup more than them,” Sibale said.
As usual, Schumacher Kuwali and Foster Biton will be entrusted with the responsibility of scoring goals for Eagles whereas Gilbert Chirwa and Vitumbiko Kumwenda will be at the hub of team supplying fascinating passes.
At the back, Wonder Jelemani, Jacob Robert, Onesimo Mbendera and Oswald Maonga have the potential to thwart Silver’s attacking verve at the same time providing the much needed shield to inform goalkeeper John Soko.
Silver assistant coach, Abasi Makawa, said he has special plan for the high flying Eagles.
“Eagles are on fire at the moment but that does not give us pressure. We will go into the match to win it and make our fans happy. Bring them on and we will show them quality football,” Makawa said.
Inform striker Khuda Muyaba and Michael Tetteh have always combined like gang to destroy opponents in domestic football. The winner between Silver and Eagles will meet either Hangover FC or Kamuzu Barracks who face-off in another semifinal at Mpira Stadium tomorrow. On their way to the semifinals, Eagles knocked out Moyale Barracks 2-0 with a Kuwali brace at the same venue whereas Silver beat Nyasa Big Bullets 3-2 on post-match penalties after 1-1 in regulation time.
In the round of 32, Silver thrashed TNM Super League rookies Mlatho Mponela 4-1 at Silver Stadium.
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