The controversy surrounding goals scored in the preliminary stage of the Standard Bank Knockout Trophy has resurfaced with some teams arguing that the current arrangement puts teams that earned automatic qualification at a disadvantage in the chase for the Golden Boot Award.

Nomads general secretary David Kanyenda and Silver Strikers chairperson McDonald Mafuta-Mwale said there is need for FAM to review the arrangement to ensure equity.

The development comes in the wake of the current leading scorer Moyale’s Gastin Simkonda, who scored twice in the preliminary match against Epac, which the Mzuzu-based soldiers came out 3-0 victors.

“The current system is unfair because teams who earn participation through voting play more matches than those which automatically qualified. It is tantamount to rewarding mediocrity and victimising the top six teams for their success,” said Kanyenda.

He added that they lodged a similar complaint last season when former Big Bullets talisman Gabadinho Mhango clinched the award having scored more goals in the preliminaries when [Silver’s] Rodrick Gonani scored more goals in the actual tournament.

Mafuta-Mwale said: “Actually, we were discussing the same issue yesterday and we felt the current trend should be reviewed immediately.”

However, FAM competitions officer Gomezgani Zakazaka said the status quo will not change.

The tournament’s top scorer gets K100 000 (about $250).

Meanwhile, Zakazaka has said the fact that the leading scorer has two goals is proof that the tournament is tough this year.