Gift Mkandawire in pleasant dilemma
Gift Mkandawire is undoubtedly the happiest football administrator in the country after two of his teams came out victorious in FDH Bank Cup quarterfinals over the weekend.
Mkandawire is board member for Mighty Wanderers and also Ekwendeni Hammers patron.
The two teams progressed to the competition’s semifinals with 2-0 score lines in their respective matches.
Ekwendeni booted out Ntopwa 2-0 on Saturday while Wanderers eliminated Mafco 2-0 24 hours later.
Mkandawire said the two teams have left him in an awkward position as he wants both to win the cup.
“I followed the two matches from home and was filled with immense joy each time either team scored. We did not want to take things for granted as cup matches are different from league encounters,” he said.
Mkandawire said he was looking forward to a final between Ekwendeni and Wanderers.
“To me, a final between Wanderers and Ekwendeni would be exciting and hilarious at the same time. On one hand, I would want my people from home [Ekwendeni] to have a feel of what it means to win a national cup.
“On the other hand, I would not want my team [Wanderers] to lose such a prestigious cup. So, it will be tricky for me. I see myself celebrating, whatever the result. All I want is any of my two teams to lift the cup,” he said.
Ekwendeni Coach Etson Kadenge Mwafulirwa said they feel excited to make the last four of the cup in their debut Super League season.
“What matters to us most is playing good football. Once we play well, good results will follow. It is good that we now have a full squad after missing some of our key players who were on the injury list. We are happy to be where we are now,” Kadenge Mwafulirwa said.
Wanderers and Ekwendeni joined Rumphi United in the semifinals with Silver Strikers and Nyasa Big Bullets scheduled to play in the last quarterfinal.
Nomads Coach Bob Mpinganjira said they were taking one match at a time and looked forward to facing either Bullets or Silver in the last four.
