State President Peter Mutharika has congratulated Silver Strikers for defying the odds to beat Tanzanian Premier Soccer League side Young Africans (Yanga) Sports Club 1-0 in the Caf Champions League at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday.
Mutharika said on his official Facebook page on Sunday that he was delighted with the performance of the team.
“To Silver Strikers, as you face off against Yanga in the return match, I wish you the very best. Be assured that I will be rooting for you all the way into the next round,” Mutharika said.
“May you make your presence on the continental stage felt and your success flow over to other teams and all other sport disciplines,” he added.
Mutharika said Silver’s performance in the competition was in line with his government’s pillars.
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“A few days ago, I engaged the Minister of State, Alfred Gangata, to mobilise motivation and support for the team as the sole carriers of our pride and ambitions. I am a sportsperson and therefore sports development is one of the pillars of this government, I am therefore excited with the result of the game yesterday [Saturday],” he said.
Gangata, looking sporty in a Silver replica jersey, watched the match at BNS.
After the match, he went straight to the pitch to congratulate players and members of the technical panel.
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“It is a great win for you guys. Keep up the good work. We are proud of you,” Gangata told the players after the match.
Prior to the match, he also visited the team’s training ground and offered words of encouragement.
In a related development, Football Association of Malawi (Fam) President Fleetwood Haiya, who watched the match, has hailed Silver for a spirited performance.
“Congratulations to Silver for a good performance. We are behind you,” Haiya said.
Meanwhile, Silver interim coach Etison Kadenge Mwafulirwa has urged his charges to guard against complacency.
“The game is played in two legs. We have played the first half and we will play the second half. For now, we are celebrating the victory but it is not over yet. We have a lot of work to do,” Mwafulirwa said.
Andrew Joseph scored the lone goal of the match.
The Central Bankers can progress to the group stage of the Caf elite club competition for the first time if they manage a draw away in Tanzania.
Yanga, on the other hand, can progress to the group stage if they beat Silver with more than one goal without a reply.
