Malawi army promotes Mafco players for winning Presidential Cup
Malawi Defence Force Commander, General Henry Odillo has duly rewarded Mafco FC for winning the country’s prestigious K60 million Presidntial Cup after beating Super League champions Silver Strikers on Sunday.
General Odillo directed that all the players and officials for the military outfit be promoted to their next ranks.
Mafco FC Chairperson Captain Chitumbo Chirambo said the promotions were effective July 2.
“About 30 players and nine officials have been promoted to the next rank. The highest ranked official now is the Warrant Officer Class One. The lowest rank is the Lance Corporal,” Chirambo explained.
The Mafco FC boss said the cup winning coach Stereo Gondwe has been promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant.
The club’s team doctor has also received a high rank of Warrant Officer Class One.
Mafco’s creative winger Zasha Mnong’oneza has also been rewarded for his exploits on the pitch by rising from Lance Corporal to a Full Corporal.
One of the Presidential Cup top goal scorers Oswald Mkagula has moved from a Private to Lance Corporal.
Mafco goalkeeper Frank Masiyano, who was the hero in the final, after taming Silver Strikers’ penalties now been promoted to Lance Corporal alongside other players such as former Mighty Wanderers Sadani Mangwere.
In a related development Captain Chirambo said the players would also share 70 percent of the K10 million prize money they won.
“The commandant of the college said the players will share part of the prize money. It will probably be in the region of K7 million. The rest of the money will go towards administration,” he said.
On behalf of the team, Chirambo expressed gratitude to the MDF commander Odillo for the promotions.
“We appreciate the gesture of the commander. He has boosted the morale of the team and the players are now motivated for future competitions,” he said.
He said the gesture would encourage players to do well in various competitions.
Mafco defied all odds by winning the country’s most prestigious cup last week for the first time in their history after beating Silver Strikers in the final 9-8 on penalties.
Genarl Odillo has encouraged the amry officers to take sports seriously.
During his reign MDF has recruited a number of renowned sports athletes from various sporting disciplines such as athletics, Mike Tebulo, Francis Khanje, Golden Gunde, Nancy Matanda, Chancy Master, Happy Mcherenje.
In boxing, Chimwemwe Chiotcha, Osgood Kayuni, Wilsom Masamba, Alick Mwenda and in football Joel Chipofya, Harvy Mkacha have also been enlisted in the MDF playing for MDF sponsored teams.
He has also supported sporting disciplines within the MDF by among other things attending most of the sporting festivals.
The General has also condemned the violent behaviour of military teams whenever they lose to civilian teams.
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