Soccer lovers should brace for a mouth-watering ThumbsUp Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) League Premier Division final as Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves and Bangwe All Stars clash tomorrow at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
Both teams have scores to settle after cruising to the final with comfortable 4-0 and 5-3 aggregate semi-final victories over Fomo FC and MDF Marine, respectively.
While Reserves are determined to win the title for the third time in a row, All Stars will try to prove why they deserve to play in the TNM Super League next season following Reserves’ promotion ineligibility.
Winners of this ThumbsUp final were supposed to occupy the South’s Super League place in the 2023 season, but Reserves are not eligible because club licensing rules stipulate that two teams from a single club cannot feature in the elite league. Bullets already have their main team in the top league.
Reserves coach Enos Chatama said yesterday: “We are well prepared for this clash. We know Bangwe All Stars are a good side and can beat us if we don’t take this game seriously.”
In spite of that, Reserves rarely lose at Kamuzu Stadium where the artificial turf augurs well with their fast-paced attacking play.
But All Stars coach Mabvuto ‘Tigana’ Lungu said they would pull out all the stops to thwart Reserves’ predictable advantage.
He said although they are already assured of promotion, winning the final will boost their morale and help them occupy the Super League slot with pride as second-tier league champions.
“Reserves are a very dangerous team, especially on the artificial turf.
“However, we have prepared our boys for that challenge as our mission is to be promoted into the top-flight league with a second-tier league trophy on our mantel-piece,” said Lungu, a former Bullets star.
SRFA vice-general secretary Kingsley Simbeye said the final will be preceded by a third-placed encounter between Fomo FC and MDF Marine.
