FISD Company Limited, sponsors of the inaugural FISD Challenge Cup, have warned all football supporters in the country to refrain from invading the field of play in the semifinals of the cup slated for this weekend.
Speaking during uniform presentations to the four semifinalists, FISD representative Charles Nyirenda who once served as the General Secretary for Football Association of Malawi (FAM) warned soccer fanatics not to repeat what they did when Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers won the Presidential Cup and Carlsberg Cup respectively saying sponsors are not happy with that kind of behavior in football matches.
“As FISD, we saw some nasty incidences in the on-going cup where by an individual made his way into the pitch and threw urine on a certain player, that wasn’t cool and it didn’t go well with the sponsors.
“I am urging all football fans to stay away from this act, it’s not good for the development of the game. We don’t want to experience what happened when Bullets and Wanderers won the Presidential and Carlsberg Cup where thousands of supporters invaded the pitch, it’s not acceptable,” he warned.
Nyirenda, popularly known as ‘the grand master, then predicted exciting showdowns in the semifinals between Blue Eagles and Wanderers as well as Silver Strikers and Kamuzu Barracks.
“If you look at the fixtures, expect fireworks from all the four teams. These are the current best teams in Malawi so it’s very difficult to predict as to who will make into the final but Malawians will enjoy every match to the fullest,” he said.
He then promised Malawians that FISD Company Limited will return with a bang next year if the management is happy with what the cup has achieved this year.
And speaking on behalf of FAM’s competitions subcommittee, DaudSuleman urged supporters to maintain order saying hooliganism is not accepted in the game of football.
“You heard what the sponsors have said and we need to urge all supporters to behave well in all the two matches. We need FISD to return next year and they can only do so if we behave,” he said.
During the presentation ceremony, four teams received sets of uniforms for their semifinal and final games.
On Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium, Eagles will host Wanderers in the first semifinal, with Silver Strikers hosting Kamuzu Barracks at Silver Stadium on Sunday in the second semifinals.
Two victorious teams will march on to the finals slated for December 10th where the winner will walk away with a trophy plus K10 million in prize money.
