Can Eagles pile more misery on Nomads?
After a week of mutiny at Lali Lubani Road, Carlsberg Cup holders Be Forward Wanderers return to Lilongwe this afternoon to face Blue Eagles at Civo Stadium in Carlsberg Cup quarter-finals.
The Nomads are coming from a loss to rivals Nyasa Big Bullets in the TNM Super League at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in the capital city and the Malawi Police Service (MPS) side has declared to pile more misery on the defending champions.
Eagles general secretary Ulemu Kalua scorned the Nomads, saying they are meeting them at a wrong time when they are hungry for silverware.
“We fear no team. Aren’t they the ones that just got beaten by their rivals just last week? We have also beaten them before. Let them come; we are ready for them,” he said.
But when reminded that Blue Eagles already lost to the Nomads in the TNM Super League a fortnight ago, Kalua said the two sides met at a time when the cops were sailing through a bad patch.
However, this is the first time for Eagles to play a Super League side in the Carlsberg Cup.
They beat Northern Region Simama Premier League outfit Ekwendeni Stars 6-0 in round of 32 before seeing off Chipiku League side TN Stars 2-1.
The Nomads, on the other hand, started their cup defence with a 6-5 post-match penalties victory of lower league side Fish Eagles in round of 32.
Wanderers, however, followed it up with a 1-0 win over fellow Super League side Mafco FC.
But team manager Steve Madeira said this afternoon’s match will be tough considering that the Nomads are coming from a Super League defeat.
He said the Nomads have put their house in order following players’ protest against unpaid dues amounting to K5 million.
As Eagles and the Nomads are sorting each other out at Civo Stadium, Southern Region Football League outfit Michiru Madrid will be in the Northern Region, trying to end Moyale Barracks’ unbeaten home record.
The second-tier league side, formed in 2012, has proved to be giant killers in the cup as they booted out two Super League sides on their way to the quarter-finals.
They stunned Masters Security 1-0 in round of 32 before providing another 3-2 upset against Chitipa United in the round of 16.
Coach Sam Mangasanja said after struggling to travel to the Northern Region due to financial problems, the team was finally ready to face the soldiers at Mzuzu Stadium this afternoon.
But Moyale Barracks coach Charles Kamanga said Michiru’s fortunes in the cup are running out.
The battle in the quarter-finals resumes tomorrow as Kasungu Police host Red Lions at Civo Stadium while Cobbe Barracks and Nyasa Big Bullets clash at Balaka Stadium.
