Zomba United in Carlsberg Finals

Zomba United yesterday defied the odds to pip Carlsberg Cup defending champions Kamuzu Barracks (KB) 1-0 at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre to set up a David versus Goliath final.

The world of sport has always been fascinated by feel-good stories of an outsider defying the odds to defeat an odds-on favourite. And the old capital-based side came out of yesterday’s showdown bruised, but triumphant.

Incredibly, prior to the match, Zomba’s coach and director Alinafe Noel Gobede declared that his side would carry the day by a goal’s margin and in the end, it did happen.

After the match, Gobede, appearing calm and easy, declared that his team will go on to win the cup.

“It has been a great achievement so far, but we will go a step further to win this cup. We are looking up to the Almighty God and it is His will that we should win this cup.

“He promised us that we would win 1-0 and it has happened, now we have to finish the mission,” said Gobede.

The lone goal came in the 57th minute. Zomba United’s Kenneth Kandaya was fouled in the box and the referee awarded a penalty which Isaac Nyankapa converted.

From then on, KB stepped up their game, with Kelvin Malikebu and Harvey Nkacha fighting their lungs out for an equaliser, but it was not enough and it never was going to be. In the end, it was Zomba who triumphed.

After the match, Zomba, cheered by the majority of the turn-out, turned the pitch into a theatre of celebrations as the stadium danced and sang their chorus ‘Angalimbane ndi Mulungu ndani’

KB coach Charles Kamanga said it was painful to lose the defence campaign to a small team.

“We had chances, but we could not score.It is very painful to lose in such a way, especially considering that we were the defending champions,” said Kamanga.

Zomba United will face Bullets in the finals on August 10.