Round 16 fixtures of the fourth edition of K60 million Fisd Challenge Cup have been slated for this weekend in all the regions in the country.
The battle taking centre stage is that of Be Forward Wanderers, who are hosting Masters Security at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday, 26 October 2019.
Wanderers, who are the defending champions of the cup, will go into the match with determination following their last week’s 2-0 win over Civil Sporting in TNM Super League match at the same venue.
The Nomads will bank their hopes on enterprising attacker Francisco Madinga and midfield kingpin Alfred Junior Manyozo.
On the other hand, Masters Security welcomes their new coach Audlow Makonyola to their fold. This will be Makonyola’s first competitive assignment. Despite the team’s poor performance of late in the TNM Super League, which has left them fight relegation, cup games are unpredictable.
In another match, MAFCO FC intends to translate their good form in Chipiku League to FISD Challenge Cup when they face Super League side Blue Eagles FC at Chitowe Stadium. The soldiers have all their arsenal in shape for the game, according to assistant coach Yohane Fulaye.
“We are ready to reach far in this competition. The fact that we play in a lower league does not hold because we are equal to the task of delivering against our opponents,” he said.
On Sunday, Savenda Chitipa United welcomes Civil Sporting at Karonga Stadium. The trip to the tip of Malawi by the Civil Servants proves to be a tough one, following their loss of two games in Super League last weekend in their sojourn to the Southern Region.
Second-tier league side Hangover FC will date Mighty Tigers at Chilomoni Stadium in Blantyre.
This year’s competition features intriguing events as the champions will lift a new trophy after the old one was left to 2018 champions Be Forward Wanderers as a souvenir.
Fisd’s Marketing and Communications Officer, Wezzie Chiumia, said they thought of replacing the trophy with a new one to ignite fire in the competition.
“This will add excitement to the competition as the winning team will be itching to make history by being the first to lift the new trophy. We therefore expect fireworks in this year’s contest,” Chiumia said.
Champions in this year’s edition will pocket K20 million with the runners-up receiving K7 million, up from K6 million.