Charity derby
The stage is set for the 2019 Ecobank Chifundo Charity Shield final between bitter rivals Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers this afternoon at Kamuzu Stadium.
Wanderers were the first to book a place in the final after an emphatic 4-0 trouncing of Masters Security in an early kick-off.
Bullets followed after a 2-1 victory over Blue Eagles in the second semi-final.
Babatunde Adepoje led the massacre of his former team, scoring a brace with the other two goals coming from Francis Mlimbika and substitute Mike Kaziputa.
Mlimbika opened the scores from the spot after Masters keeper John Enock fouled Babatunde in the box.
The Nigerian scored his first goal for Wanderers in the 31st minute and doubled the lead in the 41st minute for the first half to end 3-0.
Kaziputa wrapped up the day with a fine finish in the 82nd minute to complete the rout.
Rivals Bullets struggled to beat the police outfit in the second game.
Eagles goalkeeper John Soko gifted Bullets the opener in the 31st minute after a back pass went wrong.
The ‘keeper got a back pass from Wonder Jeremani, but when he tried to dribble past Henry Kabichi he lost the ball and the midfielder played it to Chiukepo Msowoya who tapped in into an empty goal.
But Eagles equalised in the 68th minute when Maxwell Munthali headed home from a corner kick.
However, Hassan Kajoke restored Bullets lead in the 77th minute after being played in by Patrick Phiri.
Bullets coach Callisto Pasuwa, who will be in charge of his first ever Blantyre derby, said he expects a tough match.
On the other hand, Nomads coach Bob Mpinganjira said he was looking forward to the final.
“Blantyre derby is always exciting. We look forward to another exciting match,” he said.
Eagles and Masters will battle it out in the third place play-off.
Proceeds from this year’s Charity Shield will go towards supporting people with albinism.
In between the matches messages against abduction and killing of people with albinism were spread. n
