Mighty Wanderers president Thomson Mpinganjira and his son William, who owns Ekhaya FC, have set the hype for the Zamadolo Airtel Top 8 final by declaring that the father-and-son bond will be put aside temporarily.
The two teams clash this Sunday at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe and it will be the first time for teams owned by father and son to clash in a major final.
Business mogul and philanthropist Thomson and William set the tone in response to a question on how they feel about their teams meeting in a cup final and the build-up which is centred on them.
Said Mpinganjira senior: “He [William] is loved as a son, but in this field, I do not know his name. That’s the beauty of football, you compete on the pitch.
“It is unique and unprecedented in the history of Malawi football and I understand why people are calling it the ‘Mpinganjira derby’. I must say that I was surprised when William took the decision to take his team to the Super League and even more surprised that Ekhaya has survived to the extent of qualifying for Airtel Top 8 final.
“Surprised because he is sponsoring Ekhaya from his own pocket. I am very proud of him and his achievements thus far, and the role my son is playing in supporting football development through Ekhaya FC and the growth of the game in Malawi.
“Regarding the Airtel final, when Wanderers and Ekhaya FC meet, the game of football will be the biggest winner. It will be a tough game, perhaps the toughest game this season for Wanderers because Ekhaya is a team of young boys full of energy they never tire easily.”
He said a win against Wanderers would be Ekhaya’s biggest pay day, “so I do not see them missing the opportunity to stage the biggest upset, suffice to say when a son tries to compete against a father, the consequences are far-reaching. I need not to say much”.
Said Mpinganjira senior: “I hope it will be a great advert for Malawian football, that may encourage others to join football sponsorship. At the end of the day, the biggest winner will be football and the fans.”
On his part, William described the final as a unique and exciting story for Malawi football
He said: “I understand why the fans and the media are interested in it. But beyond the father-and-son angle, I think the bigger story is the shared passion for football and the investment being made into the game.”
William said that on the day, both teams will compete to win and that Ekhaya expect a strong and entertaining final.
He said: “I believe Ekhaya will win the game. The pressure is on Mighty Wanderers not Ekhaya FC.
“But whatever happens, I believe Malawi football is the real winner because this kind of commitment creates opportunities for players, strengthens the local game and helps expose more talent.
“We respect Mighty Wanderers, [FCB Nyasa] Bullets and Silver Strikers and all the established clubs and for Ekhaya FC, this is part of our journey of growth. We are still building, but we are building with ambition.”
For Ekhaya, it will be the first major cup final appearance while the Nomads boast of several.
