Malawi Carlsberg cup: closer look at the semis

As the Carlsberg Cup semifinal dates approaches, Malawi24 sports desk takes a closer look at the two matches to be played on the 27th and 28 of August at Kamuzu Stadium and Civo stadium respectively.

The first semifinal will be between Be Forward Wanderers and Mangochi Police on Saturday.

The game will surely be a memorable occasion for Mangochi police and their coach as they will be playing at the home of football, the Kamuzu stadium.

The Mangochi based cops booked their first ever Carlsberg cup semifinal place after stunning Peter Mponda’s Premier Bet Wizards 3-2 on penalties with Telekeleni Anzeru Joseph, Blessing Anzeru Joseph and Kenson Kasonda missing Wizards’ spot kicks.

Their opponents, Mighty Be Forward Wanderers will take a step toward defending the cup they won last year after beating Nyasa Big Bullets 2-1 at Civo stadium in the finals of the same cup.

The Nomads will start the match as favourites but the Mangochi cops have momentum and confidence and it will not be surprising if the police side emerges victorious.

To do that, Mangochi police will have to put on guard Nomads striker Peter Wadabwa who has turned to be the Nomads hero and is the team’s current top goalscorer this season. Mangochi Police coach will do well to assign one player to man mark the Nomads hitman.

However, it will not be an easy match for the Nomads who have been struggling to beat minor teams as evidenced by their performance in the quarterfinal of the cup when they struggled to knock out Prison United.

On Saturday it may be the same story because the Mangochi cops have already promised that they will boot the Nomads out of the tournament.

In the second semifinal Silver Strikers will be up against Mafco fc.

An absolute bumper Carlsberg Cup tie is in prospect at Civo stadium as two big clubs from the central region go head to head.

There is usually not much between Silver Strikers and the Salima based soldiers when they meet but last time the two sides clashed,  Mafco defeated the central bankers 3 nil with Stain Malata and Richard Mbulu scoring for Mafco.

But the two – Malata  and Mbulu – will  have no chance to face the central bankers again as they are on suspension for taking a leading role in assaulting Nyasa Big Bullets players last week at Chitowe ground.

It is promising to be a cracker and it will be a must watch game for all Lilongwe football fanatics to witness who will be matching to this year’s Carlsberg cup final on 10th September.

May the best teams advance to this year’s Carlsberg Cup finals!!!!!!