Chipiku Central Region Football Association (CRFA) League Premier Division side Namitete Zitha FC will defend Central Region’s Nyasa Capital Finance Cup against Silver Strikers Reserve in the final after both teams made it out of the last four stage on Sunday.
In a semifinal match played at Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe, Silver Reserve sweated blood to make it to the final as they faced stiff opposition from Kawinga FC.
But in the end, the young Central Bankers scraped through, courtesy of Ishmael Hassan’s lone goal.
Lilongwe-based Namitete travelled to AG Dimba Stadium at Kapiri in Mchinji District where they took on Mchinji Boma Strikers in a match that produced six goals with the former winning 4-2.
Silver Reserve Coach McDonald Yobe said he knows the importance of good preparations for the crunching tie.
“I think it will be a good game. We just need good planning ahead of this final. Our players can do a good job. All we need to do is just to give them confidence so that they believe in themselves,” Yobe said.
Namitete Team Manager Ringo Kanshulu said they expect a tough match.
“It will not be an easy game. Silver Strikers Reserve is a good side that is doing well in the Chipiku League. They have a youthful squad that is hungry for success.
“But we are optimistic that our boys will do the needful to successfully defend the cup and we are geared to make history by becoming the first team in the history of CRFA to successfully defend the cup,” Kanshulu said.
During last year’s final, Namitete beat Extreme FC 1-0 to claim the championship.
The development means either Namitete or Silver Reserve will lift the cup for the second time as the latter clinched it in 2021.
CRFA Public Relations Officer Kondwani Kandiado said they are yet to fix a date and venue for the encounter.
