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FDH Cup ‘draws’ blantyre derby

Age-old rivals FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers could meet in the Round of 16 of the FDH Bank Cup whose draw was held yesterday at Mpira Village in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre.

During the draw, the People’s Team, who are the defending champions, were pitted against fellow TNM Super League side Bangwe All Stars while the Nomads will be up against Zomba-based Malawi Defence Force (MDF) side Cobbe Barracks in the Round of 32.

One of the matches where the practice is common: The Blantyre derby

The last time the two teams met in the competition was in the semi-finals in September 2022 and Bullets won 4-0.

The pick of the draw in the Round of 32 was between Blue Eagles FC and Silver Strikers FC.

Eagles were relegated from the TNM Super League last season, but have been the Bankers’ fierce capital city rivals over the years.

Silver coach Peter Mponda yesterday said they still consider Eagles as formidable opponents and they will need thorough preparations to beat them.

“Of course, we do not take any opposition team lightly because football is unpredictable. However, the game against Eagles will be special because they are very hard to beat. Although they now play in the lower league, they are still as strong as they were in the top-flight,” he said.

Eagles coach Elia Kananji said his charges are prepared to face any opponent in the cup competition and they are happy to have been drawn against Silver.

The winner of the match will face either Simbi FC or Santhe Admarc in the round of 16.

Apart from the Bullets and All Stars clash in the Round of 32, other games involving Super League teams will be between Karonga United and Mzuzu City Hammers as well as Creck Sporting Club against Fomo FC.

In other fixtures, Civil Service United have been drawn against Chikhame FC, Kamuzu Barracks will take on Iponga FC, Moyale Barracks will be up against Chintheche United while Soccer Rangers will face Mafco FC.

Ndirande Stars/Ekhaya FC will play Baka City, Sporting FC will entertain Lube Masters, Chitipa United will lock horns against Raiply FC while Nyambadwe United will face PremierBet Dedza Dynamos.

Other games include Mitundu Baptist versus Mighty Tigers, Simbi FC against Santhe Admarc and Malawi Maritime Force (MMF) Marine against Ntcheu Warriors.

The draw comprised 16 Super League clubs and the same number of teams that qualified from the regional phase.

During the draw, the current top-eight Super League teams Silver, Kamuzu Barracks, Wanderers, Mzuzu City Hammers, Bullets, Creck, Moyale and Civil were seeded so that they should not  meet in the round of 32.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the Round of 32 matches will be played early July, but the actual dates will be announced later.

FDH Bank plc senior marketing manager Ronald Chimchere said they are happy with the progress of the competition so far.

Champions of the 2024 FDH Bank Cup are expected to get K35 million, runners-up will receive K15 million, semi-finalists will get K7 million each while quarter-finalists are assured of doubled prize of K2 million each.

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