Giant-killers Panthers FC have vowed to add Civil Service (Civo) United to their growing list of casualties when they face-off this afternoon in the Ibongetse Castel Challenge Cup quarter-finals at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
The second-tier Chipiku Stores Central Region Premier Division outfit wrote its name into the Castel Challenge Cup folklore recently when it pulled off shock post-match penalty victories over three elite league teams.
They booted out last year’s losing finalists and newly-crowned TNM Super League champions Silver Strikers, Mafco FC and Chitipa United.
The Lilongwe-based side’s team manager Andrew Chiphwanya yesterday said they are determined to continue kicking out Super League opponents in their ambitious drive to become the first lower league team to go an extra mile in the annual tournament.
The match is one of the three last-eight fixtures this afternoon as Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Bangwe All Stars also clash at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre while Karonga United Wwill host Mzuzu City Hammers.
“Our mission is to reach the final and probably lift the cup and Civo are standing in our way. We beat other Super League teams through post-match penalties, but this time around, we want to excel in regulation time,” Chiphwanya said.
He added that they have the arsenal for the challenge, citing experienced players such as former Blue Eagles striker John Malidadi Jnr, ex-Civil United forward Arnold Masamba and former defender of the now-defunct Sable Farming FC Happy Masamba.
In a separate interview yesterday, Civil coach Abbas Makawa said they are aware of Panthers’ remarkable run so far and will approach the match with caution.
“In all the previous cup competitions this season, we failed to reach the semi-finals and tomorrow’s match offers us that opportunity. We cannot let it slip through our fingers. We expect a tough game, but we are ready for them,” he said.
The Wanderers versus Bangwe match is another interesting affair this afternoon. For the Nomads, a win will keep alive their hopes for a silverware this season after failing to win the TNM Super League, FDH Bank Cup and Airtel Top 8.
Bangwe coach Trevor Kajawa said in an interview that they have left no stone unturned to register a victory that could relieve the pain of their recent relegation from the Super League.
He said: “Getting relegated was a painful experience, but we have moved on and our focus is now on the Castel Cup.
“We played Wanderers in the Airtel Top 8 quarter-finals and they excelled through post-match penalties. So, we know what to expect and we are ready.”
In the Airtel Top 8 tie, the Nomads won the first leg 1-0 before Bangwe triumphed in the second leg by a similar margin.
Meanwhile, Hilltop, the only non-league side remaining in the competition, host holders FCB Nyasa Bullets in the last Round of 16 match at Mzuzu Stadium.
