Nomads, Eagles clash in Fisd Cup semis

Be Forward Wanderers and Blue Eagles will this afternoon clash in a potentially explosive Fisd Challenge Cup semi-final showdown at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Wanderers are desperate to earn a slot in the finals and keeping their pedigree of being the first champions of cup competitions while Eagles are hoping to reach the final stage of any major cup competition for the first time in four years.

Wanderers, who defended the Carlsberg Cup this year, were the first to win FAM Cup (which later changed to Standard Bank Cup) in 2005, Carlsberg Cup in 2000 and Presidential Cup in 2009. As for Eagles, they last won a trophy in 2012 when they lifted the Carlsberg Cup.

“We are just one step to winning a second trophy this year and we are ready to get Blue Eagles out of our way,” said Wanderers’ coach Yasin Osman.

“Going into Fisd Cup semi-final, we will be considered as underdogs because we recently lost [1-2] to Eagles in the TNM Super League. However, this does not mean we fear the Malawi Police Service [MPS] side, but we just respect them.”

According to Osman, all their key players such as Peter Wadabwa, Stanley Sanudi and Joseph Kamwendo are in good shape and are ready for battle.

Nevertheless, Blue Eagles coach DeKlerk Msakakuona said they will not be flattered by their recent dominance over the Nomads.

“To us, every game is a new challenge. We do not bank on history in our pursuit for success. In spite of that, it has been a long time since we won a major cup competition and beating Wanderers this Saturday is the only thing we need to do to set ourselves on a path to glory,” he said.

He said players Maxwell Salambula, Gilbert Chirwa, Phillip Masiye and Oswald Maonga will be tasked to do the job for the Lilongwe-based side.

In the other last-four encounter tomorrow, Silver Strikers will host Kamuzu Barracks at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.