Mthandizi beat Ntopwa to reach Katika football finals
Mthandizi All Stars beat Ntopwa One FC 4-1 to reach the finals of the K1 million (about $4 000) Justice Katika Football Trophy.
The match was played at Desert ground in Bangwe, Blantyre on Sunday.
Mabvuto ‘West’ Phiri turned Ntopwa’s defenders inside out and scored All Stars’ first goal in the 10th minute while Kondwani Hoja equalised in the 15th minute.
However, Phiri’s second goal and two more strikes by Geoffrey Palanda and Kenneth Masaka deflated Ntopwa, who were regarded as title favourites after Bangwe Madrid were booted out by Mbayani FC in round of 16 three weeks ago. At break, All Stars were leading 3-1.
Although Ntopwa had strikers James Manda and Victor Chitedze, who are trying their luck at Blantyre United, they were vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Phiri had a lot of freedom on the left-flank from where he frequently sent good crosses, one of which landed on Palanda’s right foot to power home the third goal after 33 minutes.
But it was Masaka’s finish in the second-half that sent tongues wagging among soccer lovers who made a fence around the pitch. He raced into the box, beat two defenders with a swerve and tapped a lazy ball into the far corner.
“We will win this trophy. You have seen for yourself how my boys are performing on the pitch,” said Mthandizi All Stars coach Aubrey Luwanda after the match.
But Ntopwa One trainer Thom Kazembe was gracious in defeat, attributing the loss to lack of coordination.
According to one of the competition’s organisers Charles Okay, the All Stars will now face Ntopwa United in the finals on September 16 at the Desert ground. United defeated Mbuzi Swallows 3-1 in the other semi-final last week.
