By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Four teams Extreme FC, Kawinga FC, St Gabriel Medicals FC and Ekas Freight Wanderers FC are anticipated to battle it out in the Central Region Nyasa Capital Finance Cup final phase this afternoon.
Area 25 based side Ekas Freight Wanderers FC are hosting the FDH Bank Cup 2022 semifinalist Extreme FC from Mchinji who are also topping group B in the premier division. The setting is Lilongwe Community ground.
Kawinga FC entertain St Gabriel Medicals FC from Namitondo in Namitete at Maliri ground.
Contrary to what many football fraternity anticipate from cup games, the last four teams in the central region are expected to play six games each before finding the winner as they are to play each other on home and away basis.
The new format has ,however, puzzled the teams in the region which have since shown dissatisfaction as they are to cough much from their already dry coffers to fulfil the fixtures.
Despite the cry to their governing body CRFA to maintain the cup format to reduce the costs and fatigue from players as teams are also busy with crucial games in Chipiku Premier Division round two,the body has given them a blind eye and deaf ear as it has insisted on the new format.
Maravipost post learnt that a team from Mchinji to fulfil a fixture in Lilongwe or the opposite spends almost MK400,000 for food, Transport and allowances while to host a counterpart teams cough about MK250,000.
This means that the four teams to play the six games in this final round of the cup,they will have to spend not less than MK2 million which will be higher than the grand prize that has been pegged at MK1.5 million for the champion.
Runners up will pocket MK600,000, 3rd placed will walk home with MK250,000 and fourth placed MK150,000.
In the Southern Region and Northern Region, the associations have maintained the cup format.
Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) are this coming weekend anticipated to host round of 16 games which will see the winners qualifying into the quarterfinals. The winners from this round will progress to the semifinals.
The Association will later stage the third place play off before the final.
Nyasa Capital Finance Limited company is sponsoring the regional cups to the tune of MK46.3 million which the three associations are getting MK8.3 million per annum.
