Experience was the differentiating factor between FDH Bank finalists Silver Strikers and Ekwendeni Hammers as the Central Bankers beat the Northern Region outfit 2-0 at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Friday to become the first team to clinch the FDH Bank Knockout Cup.
This was a third meeting between the two teams this soccer season, with the Area 47 side winning 2-0 last week in a league match. They also lost to the Hammers 0-1 in the first round at Mzuzu Stadium.
Although the Central Bankers were the favourites to lift the prestigious trophy, coach Daniel Kabwe’s men had to be wary of their opponents who, in their first season in the top flight league, showed resilience and a hunger for success.
Under the guidance of Edison Kadenge Mwafulirwa, the Northern Region outfit were looking to bag their first trophy in Malawian top-flight football.
With the final having produced an entertaining match , Malawi24 takes a look at how the Bankers managed to walk away with MK25 million prize money and a beautiful trophy:
Cup final experience and big match temperament
After beating Be Forward Wanderers in 2017 and Karonga United in 2019 in the Airtel Top Eight Knockout Cup at the same venue, the Area 47 side were the better team in head-head comparisons ahead of the final. Looking at the ‘Road to the Final’, Silver Strikers deserved to be champions.
The Bankers played Immigration FC in the round of 32 in which they beat 2-1 away from home.
Unlike their opponents who only played one Super League side in Ntopwa FC, Silver ousted Moyale Barracks 2-0 in the round of 16 and beat Nyasa Big Bullets 4-2 through post-match penalties in the quarterfinals. The Central Bankers went on to display one of their best performances in the cup by thumping Wanderers 3-0.
Boasting players such as Blessings Tembo, Stain Davie, Taonga Chimodzi and Charles Thom, the Lilongwe-based side were having an added advantage in the game, but Kabwe had to remind his men to remain disciplined against such unpredictable side.
Considering the fact that Ekwendeni Hammers were the first team to inflict a defeat on Silver Strikers in the Super League, Kabwe and his players were very cautious about their opponents and ensured all was well with a strike in each half through veteran Frank Banda and Stain Davie.
In simple terms, the Reserve Bank of Malawi sponsored team had vast experience compared to their opponents.
Even though Silver had the best ammunition for the clash, Kabwe had to ensure he neutralized Hammers players such as Sammy Phiri, Clever Kayira and Blessings Singini no wonder the Mzuzu based outfit had fewer shots at goal in the entire 90 minutes.
Stain Davie’s contribution
In our preview, we clearly sent a warning to Ekwendeni Hammers to worry about the former TN Stars forward who stepped in for Maxwell Gasten who struggled to regain his goal-scoring form in the second half of the season.
The striker managed to help the Bankers revive their status and he scored a brace in the quarterfinal against Bullets.
In the final , he scored the second goal that hammered the final nail on the visitors’ coffin.
Ekwendeni Hammers’ bravery
Although they lost the encounter on Friday afternoon, Kadenge Mwafulirwa’s men showed a strong fighting spirit to reach the final in the first season in the top flight-football and will be encouraged with their display.
Many did not give the Hammers a chance to reach the final looking at the quality of teams in the cup but the Super League rookies defied all odds to reach the finals and give the Bankers a good run for their money.
Though they had only faced one Super League side, but beating fellow minnows Airborne Rangers, Wanderers Reserve and Rumphi United still gave them hope and a massive boost to shock one of the best teams in the top flight.
However, Mwafulirwa will have to now turn his focus on ensuring they remain in the top flight beyond 2022 when the new season kicks off in the next five months.
The coach deserves credit for guiding the team into becoming a Cup finalist just a year after earning promotion to the Super League from Simama Football League.
On the other hand, the Bankers will look to build on their cup success and ensure they push for their third Airtel Top Eight Cup when the tournament kicks off at the end of the month.
They were the favorites to clinch the Super League title but bottled it in the second round having led the standings throughout the first round only to surrender the top position to Bullets despite having an eight-point lead at some point.
However, the FDH Cup success will erase the wounds inflicted by Bullets’ league success.
Money aside, it’s always good to win and it has worked well for Kabwe who started the rebuilding exercise soon after landing the job.
