Fisd Cup to have new format
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has announced that it will change the format of Fisd Challenge Cup from next season.
Fam Vice-President, James Mwenda, was speaking at Kalulu Stadium in Nchalo during the official launch of the K45 million Fisd Challenge Cup on Saturday.
He said from next season, district coaches will be identifying players to form select sides after competing in the Presidential Cup and those teams will be playing at a regional level with winners proceeding to the national level.
Mwenda said the district clubs will be the responsibility of their respective district councils.
“We hope that this format will assist in developing players for the national teams,” he said.
Currently, the cup is played on knockout basis.
Firstly, districts teams play in a regional championship to come up with eight teams that qualify for the national phase as follows; South (three) Centre (three), North (two).
TNM Super League’s 16 teams will be drawn against each other with the top-eight teams from last season seeded.
This phase will produce eight teams that will qualify for the national phase.
Then the eight district teams and the eight Super league teams go into the national draw from round of-16 all the way to final.
Speaking at the same ceremony, Fisd Managing Director, Frank Mwenechanya, said through football, his organisation wants to promote irrigation farming using solar panels.
“We need to use water for irrigation. This will help us to avert hunger,” he said.
“We believe in giving back to the society that helps us in our business.”
He said Malawi has the potential to produce good players but there is need to tap this talent from the grassroots, hence the introduction of cup.
Last year, Fisd partnered Wizards Football Club, but the company pulled out sponsorship before introducing the cup.
During the launch, Minister of Labour, Sports, Youth and Manpower Development, Henry Mussa, promised that government will support Fisd for investing in football.
Mussa invited Fisd to a discussion on how best government can support the company.
During the launch, Chikwawa-based Dululu Football Club beat Mwanza Madrid 2-0 to sail through to the next stage of the competition which currently is being competed for at regional level.
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