FDH Bank has fuelled excitement ahead of the round-of-16 clash of its cup between holders FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and their bitter rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
The crunching tie is set for Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday.
In a typical move aimed at increasing patronage at the do-or-die match, the bank has purchased 3,000 open stand tickets worth K12 million to be distributed to customers who will transact in its branches across the Southern Region between Friday and Saturday.
FDH Bank Senior Marketing Manager Ronald Chimchere said the move would help motivate football lovers to go to the stadium and cheer their teams on Sunday.
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“We have done this as a way of appreciating our customers for the business relationship that exists between us. We are also excited with this fixture, knowing that it will be a showdown between two big teams in this country,” Chimchere said.
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He said the tickets will be available to FDH Bank customers transacting at branches in Blantyre, Bvumbwe, Thyolo, Luchenza, Mulanje, Goliati, Nchalo, Chikwawa, Balaka, Zomba and Liwonde.
“This derby attracts a lot of people, not only from Blantyre, but surrounding areas as well. This is the reason we have made the tickets available in other branches across the Southern Region,” Chimchere said.
Supporters from both Bullets and Wanderers have welcomed the arrangement.
Wanderers Supporters Committee Chairperson Mervin Nkunika said the bank has given fans an alternative means to watch the derby.
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“This is an easy way to watch the derby. If you are an FDH Bank customer, it is better just to go into the bank and transact to get a free ticket than having to buy one,” Nkunika said.
His Bullets counterpart Stone Mwamadi applauded the bank for setting the tone for the derby.
“With this arrangement, the two teams already have K12 million in advance ticket sales courtesy of FDH Bank. This is very commendable indeed. What is even better is that the tickets are available not only in Blantyre, but in other branches within the Southern Region as well,” Mwamadi said.
The two teams also met in the cup’s semifinal in 2022, with Bullets proceeding to the final after hammering the Nomads 4-0 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe courtesy of goals from Babatunde Adepoju, Hassan Kajoke, Anthony Mfune and Gomezgani Chirwa.
