It’ will be more than a derby as Silver Strikers and Civil Service United clash in the Airtel Top 8 semi-finals at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe today.
More is at stake than just winning bragging rights for the Capital City.
Monetary rewards will be the main motivation, considering that the Airtel Top 8 Trophy comes with a fat purse worth K35 million for champions and K12 million for runners-up.
This is what will make the match exciting as no team will slacken with such big money at stake.
Silver coach Peter Mgangira said he understands the importance of the fixture.
Top 8 encounter. | Courtesy of Silver
“It been a good week as some of our injured players are back. The players look positive. It’s a cup game. It’s a semi-final and the players know the importance of this game.
“If we win we, will be in finals. The players are ready. The players need to be hungry and apply what we have been doing in training,” he said.
Silver has been boosted by return of Maxwell Paipi, Duncan Nyoni and Emmanuel Allan, giving Mgangira more ammunition.
When the two sides met in the league few weeks ago, Silver had the upper hand, beating their rivals 2-0 in Area 47.
Civil Service assistant coach Wilson Chidati in a pre-match interview believes his side is prepared mentally and physically.
“You know recently we lost to them [Silver]. We can’t accept to lose again. The players are ready. We have seen the response in training and we have confidence of getting a good result.
“Apart from one player Precous Chipungu, who is injured, all the players are available. This gives us lots of options,” he said.
