……Silver 1-0 Namitete
By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Silver Strikers Reserve on Saturday, November 2, 2023, were crowned Central region Nyasa Capital Finance Cup champions for the second time after stunning highly spirited Namitete Zitha 1-0 at Nankhaka Stadium in a fierce battle.
Lasuli Jali scored with a stunning header from Madalitso Maso’s neat pass to send fans who came in larger numbers at the facility into rapture in the 15th minute of the first half.
Namitete Zitha started the match on a slow note from the onset, coming second on the ball and at the same time lacking confidence and composure when in the enemy’s half. In the first half, they managed to create half chances which Mathews Hamuza and Maxwell Mangwere failed to utilize.
Come the second half the Young Bankers clung to their slender 1-0 lead despite Zitha’s superb performance. The game complexion changed for the Namitete-based side after making several changes.
Jaffalie Mpelera and Lawrence Chilanga replaced Maxwell Mangwere and Thomas Manyowa. Silver coach McDonald Yobe replied by introducing Ruben White and George Penyenye for Clever Kalambo and Madalitso Maso.
The substitutions changed the tempo of the game for both sides but this time it was Namitete Zitha who piled pressure on Silver sitting in enemies half but the gift of a goal was nowhere to be found.
Upon noticing Zitha was coming wave after wave McDonald Yobe made another change as Aaron Namatcha and Joseph Patulani for Ishmael Hassan and Masambelo Kalua.
Substitute Innocent Mtonga for Silver Strikers was red carded after fouling Zitha’s forward Mathews Hamuza close to 18 yards box as he was about to take a powerful shot in the 85th minute and a free kick was awarded which hit the post.
The Young central bankers clung to their 1-0 lead until the last whistle and yes it was confirmed that Silver Reserve is the Champions of the MK23 million Nyasa Capital Finance Cup for the second time since its inception as they were the inaugural winner in 2021.
Reacting to the victory Silver Reserve head coach praised his boys for managing to defend the goal they scored in the first half saying it was a tough game.
“It was a tough encounter as you saw. We tried to play our passing and supporting kind of football but due to the condition of the pitch we failed. We thank God for the cup”, said Yobe.
Namitete Zitha team manager Ringo Kashulu Mtema acknowledged the defeat saying they did not come for the party, especially in the first half where they were always second on the ball.
“Sadly, we have failed to defend the title but we failed to play our game as the boys respected our counterparts. The focus now will be switched to the league”, Mtema said.
Silver Strikers Reserve received mk1.6 million, trophies and medals for being champions whilst Namitete Zitha took home MK650,000 and medals as runners-up.
Kawinga FC who finished third got MK300, 000 and Mchinji Boma Strikers received MK200,000.
Mathews Hamuza and Umar Mustapha of Namitete Zitha and Blue Eagles Reserve shared the Golden Boot accolade which its prize was MK100,000 they both scored 5 goals.
Nyasa Capital Finance bank board chairman Joseph Mononga said as an institution they were impressed with the way the Central Region Football Association has run the cup in the past three years.
“There was no violence throughout the cup, fans were on point and administration has also been so good. Let me assure you that Nyasa Capital Finance is here to stay. We committee that we continue but for the amounts you wait for the board to discuss. As a company we have made great strides in our market base as the brand has now become the name of many households hence our commitment”, explains Mononga.
In his remarks, Central Region Football Association Vice General Secretary Antonio Manda was impressed with the turnout of supporters at Nankhaka Stadium and described the final match as a top-billing.
“Learning that Nyasa Capital Finance still commits themselves to sponsoring the cup is very good news and that’s what we anticipated from them considering the cordial relationship we had had in these three years.
“The commitment we have as an association is resulting in more sponsors to come and work with us so we are happy for that”, Manda said.
The journey in the 2023 Nyasa Capital Finance Cup in the central region started on October 15, with 15.32 teams which 24 were from the premier division and 8 from division one participated.
79 goals have been registered from 30 games played. The Northern Region and Southern region are yet to conclude the cup.
