By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Four teams form Central Region Football Association Premier Division league on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 went home smiling after Nyasa Capital Finance approved their loan applications.
The four teams including Extreme FC from Mchinji,St Gabriel Medicals FC from Namitete,Kawinga FC from area 36 and Ekas Freight Wanderers FC from area 25 in Lilongwe.
Ekas Freight Wanderers FC defeated Dedza Young Soccer FC 1-0 at Lilongwe Community ground,Mike Nkhata scored the lone goal at 18th minute in the first half.
Extreme FC humbled Nsaru United FC 2-0 at Waliranji Secondary School ground. Tonny Phiri and Maxwell Matewere were on target.
Nsaru United FC went into the game confident enough having booted out two Premier division sides, Mbabvi United FC and Airborne Rangers FC in round of 32 and 16 respectively.
They thought they would do the same to Extreme FC who reached the national top cup FDH Bank semifinals months ago,but it wasn’t to be as the Waliranji based side prepared well for the minors.
Another division one resilient side who booted the defending champions Silver Strikers Reserve FC in the round of 32 Zaithwa FC was painfully shown an exit door by in form St Gabriel Medicals FC through penalties 5-3 after regulation time ended 1-1.
The home team scored at 4th minute through Kondwani Nyirenda, but the minors didn’t surrender yet until they equalized in the 93rd minute through Chimwemwe Kachitsamba.
Wongani Chipeta,Eston Kawonga, Newo White converted their spot kicks while Chimwemwe Kachitsamba turned from hero to zero as he missed decisive spot kick for Matumba, Dedza based side.
St Gabriel Medicals FC managed to convert five penalties through, Kondwani Nyirenda, Ben Kalambalayi, Ernest Samalani, Madalitso Maloya and the goalkeeper Moffat Limunga who also saved one kick from Zaithwa FC.
Kawinga FC defeated Simbi FC 1-4 at Mchinji Community ground,Anord Sun Kuyamwa scored a hat trick in 12’|,82’| and 90’| while Lazarus Chirwa 52’| netted one for the visitors to seal their place in the semifinals.
Gerald Nkhoma scored the consolation goal for Simbi FC at 74th minute.
The four teams despite reaching the stage have complained about the poor officiation of some officials through out the tournament hence have appealed to CRFA to talk to Central Region Referees governing body to allocate them competent referees during this crucial round.
CRFA General Secretary, Bernard Harawa, has described the whole cup up to the semifinals stage as a success saying they have witnessed a stiff competition amongst Premier and division one teams.
“Competition was so stiff,we have witnessed shocking and upsetting results from round of the 32.Other Premier league sides were knocked out by division one sides.Nyasa Capital Finance Cup has helped scouts to identify hidden talents especially from division one”,
” We will sit down and have a talk with our colleagues from referees so that they allocate us competent referees during this crucial round, let me take this opportunity to appeal to the teams to maintain discipline”, Harawa said.
The four teams are anticipated to play each other in home and away format, the top team will be crowned the 2022 champion and will pocket MK1.5 million, Trophy and medals, while runners up will get MK600,000 and medals with third placed walking home with MK250,000 and fourth placed MK150,000.