Mafco, Tigers faceoff in Lilongwe
The last instalment of the 2014 Standard Bank Knock-Out Trophy final will be settled today [Sunday] when Mafco and Azam Tigers faceoff in the semifinal on neutral Civo Stadium, Lilongwe.
The winner of today’s encounter joins Silver Strikers who squared it out with Nomads yesterday in the other semifinal played at the Kamuzu Stadium.
Mafco, the surprise package of the 2013 Presidential Cup, step onto the pitch with a favourites’ tag as they dismantled and gunned down fellow soldiers Airborne 3-0 in last week’s quarterfinal.
But the picture is not all rosy for Tigers, as limped their way through to the last-four via an odd free-kick and an own goal against Epac and Kamuzu Barracks last week at the Kamuzu Stadium.
Even more so, the Super League first round standings speak better on the gulf in class between the two teams.
Mafco finished the first round fifth on 23 points whereas the Kau Kau ended eighth with 16 points.
Therefore, Tigers should be content getting this far as they have over the years been a picture of inconsistency in playing and coaching personnel Frank ‘Franco’ Ndawa is now at the helm of a predominantly new-look squad.
Tigers’ technical advisor Robin Alufandika admitted that “Mafco have an upper hand as they won a cup last season, we could only draw 1-1 with them at home and they are ahead on the log table. We expect it tough.”
Indeed, the Tigers’ front line of Frazer Menyani, Bright Munthali and Peter Katsonga was brought in the close season and lacks telepathic understanding. The Tigers’ strikers will be up against Zasher M’nongoneza-led tight defence.
“Tigers’ squad keeps on changing. It won’t be easy. Since 2011 they have beaten us twice, but we have dominated with two quarterfinal wins over them in Carlsberg Cup and Presidential Cup,” M’nongoneza said.
At stake in next weekend’s final is K9 million fat cheque for the champions and a glittering trophy in the cup which Standard Bank Malawi sponsors to the tune of K28 million. The cup runs for three weeks.
