Carlsberg Cup Round of 16 Preview

The prestigious Carlsberg Cup Round of 16 have finally arrived, and they promise us some entertaining matches. A soldier’s affair, two clubs linked by mutual history, three lower-division clubs aching for glory, and a pair of clubs that have given us some of the best Carlsberg Cup matches we’ve seen.

The matches are spread over the three regions, letting us extend the joy of watching these clubs slug it out to see who gets to quench their thirsty with Carlsberg Beer in the Round of 16.

With clubs ranging from as low as Silver Strikers Reserve and as high as Big Bullets, this should be an entertaining weekend as we barrel ever closer to the end of Malawi’s biggest domestic cup.

Red Lions vs Moyale Barracks @ Zomba Community

The highlight match of the round puts two old military sides head to head, two teams that have thrown up Carlsberg in years past.

Red Lions are hosting Moyale Barracks on Saturday afternoon at the Zomba Community Centre Ground

This is a battle of Collins Nkuna versus Nicholas Mhango, Innocent Bokosi versus Deus Nkutu. It’s shaping up to be one heck of a throwdown between two of the titans, and no one will blame you if you spend the whole weekend waiting just for this match. It should be well worth waiting for.

Moyale Barracks coach Nicholas Mhango has said his side will invade the old capital city on a mission not as tourists, while his counterpart Collins Nkuna said they will use home ground advantage to gun down their fellow soldiers.

Chilumba Barracks vs Mighty Be Forward Wanderers @ Mzuzu Stadium

Many will overlook this matchup because it’s between a Simama lower League side against a Super League giant, but make no mistake: Chilumba is very much deserve to be in this competition. Just because they don’t play in the top division of the Malawi’s pyramid doesn’t make Saturday’s match anything near less important or less impressive.

Chilumba team manager Kazwizwa Banda has warned the Nomads not to expect an easy ride.

“We are ready for Wanderers come Saturday. Our preparations are going on well and let them not underrate us or else they will be shocked,” said Banda.

However, the Nomads are coming straight from two draws against military teams in the Super League.

They had drawn against Moyale 1-1 before doing the same with Red Lions last week.

Coach Elijah Kananji said they are not underrating Chilumba because for them to reach this far it means they are a good side.

“We will take them head on as any team. Any team in a cup game is stronger, as such we will play our normal game,” said Kananji.

Support Battalion vs Civo United @ Silver Stadium

On paper, spectators have already given Civo United a place in the quarter finals, but alas! Do not make any mistake because for them to reach this far it’s not a joke.

Support Battalion may not have League scalps in their belt, but are worthy of respect and represent good challenges for the Civil Servants.

Both of these clubs are going to be giving it all they have just to be able to prove that they have what it takes to hang with the big boys.

Azam Tigers vs Dedza Young Soccer @ Kamuzu Stadium

There’s nothing like a mouth watering fixture involving the two sides because they both play the same type of grass cutter football, and this pairing is no exception. There’s never been any love lost between Tigers and Dedza, and Saturday’s match promises fireworks galore.

Dedza Young Soccer coach Pofera Jegwe is still adapting this Dedza in the Super League to his vision and methods, and while the ride has been bumpy, there’s been promise shown of late.. Still, this battle of wills between the passionate two League out-fits means that all form is thrown out the window and the table is cleared for one big, all-out fight to the finish.

The Kau-Kau boys are currently enjoying classic form having finished second on the League first round table.

Coach Gerald Phiri said they are geared for the match and urged their fans to cheer them from the word go, while Dedza Young Soccer coach Pofera Jegwe had a few words, “ We are coming to Blantyre to oust Tigers nothing else.”

Big Bullets vs Silver Strikers Reserve @ Kamuzu Stadium (Sunday)

This tie lacks much intrigue on the surface, but once you dig a little deeper, there’s plenty here to like. When the junior bankers go to Kamuzu Stadium Road to play Big Bullets on Sunday), there’s more than just a Carlsberg Cup berth on the line for a League champions side, there’s a chance for them to get one over on a club that they don’t much care for.

The Peoples Team, who are also cup holders have what looks like an easy fixture on paper, but do not make any mistake as far as Carlsberg Cup is concerned.

Way back they were shocked when Polytechnic ousted them in a cup game at Kamuzu Stadium.

Bullets coach Mabvuto Lungu said the Peoples Team are ready to teach the junior bankers a bitter lesson on Sunday.

“Our aim this season is to defend the cup. We will take them as team and our plea to our fans is to come in their large numbers to drum up support to us,” said Lungu.

However, Silver Reserve coach Patrick Mangani has warned Bullets to underrate them at their own risk.

“Whether facing Bullets at Kamuzu Stadium or not, we are not shaken because they will feature 11 players same with us.We want to write history come Sunday in Blantyre,” said Mangani.

 

2015 CARLSBERG CUP ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES

 

Saturday 25^th July, 2015

Support Battalion     versus          Civo United                 @            Silver Stadium         14:30hrs

Chilumba Barracks versus          Be Forward Wanderers   @       Mzuzu Stadium       14:30hrs

Red Lions                versus          Moyale                        @            ZACC Ground       14:30hrs

Azam Tigers            versus          Dedza Young Soccer   @            Kamuzu Stadium    14:30hrs

 

Sunday 26^th July, 2015

Big Bullets                versus          Silver Strikers Reserves   @            Kamuzu Stadium     14:30hrs

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