Sunbird Nkopola lifts FAM Cup
Sunbird Nkopola Lodge FC from Mangochi on Saturday won the FAM Beach Soccer Tournament after beating Madala FC from Karonga 7-2 in a one-sided match at Sunbird Livingstonia.
Nkopola received K500 000 and a trophy while Karonga got K250 000. Third-placed Beach Eagles from Chintheche in Nkhata Bay received K150 000 while fourth-placed Mangochi Escom took home K100 000.
Player of the tournament was Nyasaland Ikwangwa from Madala whereas Junior Frazer was the tournament’s top goal scorer. They both took home K20 000 each.
To reach the finals, Nkopola beat Beach Eagles whereas Madala FC beat Mangochi Escom.
The games were watched by a sizeable crowd which included FAM executive member Rashid Ntelera and Beach Soccer Malawi (BSM) president Kondwani Gondwe.
The Southern Region Beach Soccer League (SRBSL) was represented by Mangochi Escom and Nkopola, while the Centre had FC Malawi and Sunbird Livingstonia. Karonga was represented by Puma and Madala whereas Chintheche league from Nkhata Bay was represented by Nyerere FC and Beach Eagles.
Speaking on behalf of FAM president Walter Nyamilandu, Ntelera said the national football governing body was committed to ensuring the sport of beach soccer is developed to higher levels.
“I was impressed with the talent we witnessed here today. It is testimony that the sport has a future. As FAM, we will continue to sponsor this tournament. I must also congratulate the winners, I think you deserve it,” he said.
On his part, Gondwe assured the teams that beach soccer will continue to grow and that the national team will again take part in the Cosafa tournament this year.
“My appeal to the corporate world is to invest in the sport through sponsorship of tournaments or teams,” he said. n
