Africa-Press – Malawi. The battle for K25 million in the K90 million FDH Bank is getting tough as six TNM Super League teams will face each other in the round of 32. This follows a draw that was conducted at Football Association of Malawi (Fam)’s Mpira Village at Chiwembe Township in Blantyre.
The draw involved 16 super league teams and 16 regional leagues teams drawn from the South, Central and northern parts of the country. It is now confirmed that three Super League teams will have an early exit from the competition following the draw.
TN Stars will be at home against Moyale Barracks while Karonga United have been paired against Mighty Wanderers. Another appetising fixture will involve Mzuzu Warriors and Ntopwa United.
Soccer fans will have a reminiscence of the old days as Nyasa Big Bullets face their junior side, Nyasa Bullets Reserve. FDH Bank Marketing Manager, Ronald Chimchere, said they expect an exciting phase of the competition.
“We expect competitive football, more so that Super League teams have joined the race. We hope that we will be able to identify talent that will benefit the country,” Chimchere.
Chimchere further said as part of lessening financial burden on the part of the teams, they will provide K500,000 to each team and also dress all 32 participating sides. Fam Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the football fraternity should anticipate a professionally run competition.
“If you look at the pairing, we have exciting fixtures. With teams from the lower divisions taking part, we are assured that our aim of developing football from the grassroots will be achieved,” Zakazaka said.
Teams that finished the first round of the Super League in the top eight were seeded in the draw. Games are expected to begin next weekend. In other games, Civil Service United will be up against Sable Farming, Dedza Dynamos versus Mafco, Red Lions face Simbi while Ekwendeni Hammers meet Airborne Rangers.
Immigration FC have been paired with Silver Strikers, Mighty Wanderers Reserve versus Luwinga United, Blue Eagles vs Ekwendeni United, Rumphi United vs Neno Giants, Baka City vs Dedza Young Soccer, Mighty Tigers vs Kasungu Police, Polytechnic FC vs Chitipa United while Kamuzu Barracks will battle it out with Ngolowindo FC. The preliminary stage of the competition involved 64 teams; six each from the South and Centre while North contributed four teams.
