Malawi Pres Cup review: Mafco ready to face BB as Wanderers regain Chipuwa’s services
Salima based soldiers side Mafco FC head coach Thomas Maloya says his side is ready for an epic battle against wounded Nyasa Big Bullets in the semifinal leg of the 2016 Presidential Cup slated for Kamuzu Stadium this Saturday.
Maloya said it is now a pay back time for the ‘Peoples Team’ which has been giving the soldiers tough time by blocking their way as well as knocking them out of domestic cup competitions.
Bullets, who thumped Kabwafu FC 4-0 last Saturday to reach the semifinal of the presidential cup, will be looking forward to recover from their painful and embarassing 0-1 league game defeat to elite league rookies Karonga United.
Speaking on Thursday ahead of the crucial presidential cup meeting, Maloya said Mafco’s common goal is to beat Bullets inorder to clean their record against Bullets.
“We are prepared for the encounter and people should expect classic display of football. It will be a good game because we will be looking forward to nothing but a win since Bullets have all along beaten us in Cup games” said Maloya.
Mafco will bang their hopes on their hitman Richard Mbulu who has been scoring goals for fun this season.
On the part of Bullets, Technical Director Billy Tewesa recently said they are not fearing any team and that they will take each and every game as it comes.
Both Bullets and Mafco have an equal Presidential Cup winning record.
Bullets once won the Presidential Cup in 2012 after beating Moyale Barracks 1-0 while Mafco also won the cup once in 2013 throungh penalties (9-8).
But Mafco are one step ahead of Bullets as they have reached the finals twice.
Another mouthwatering Presidential Cup semifinal match will be played at the Mzuzu Stadium where host Moyale Barracks face Mighty Be Forward Wanderers on the same day-Saturday.
Both Wanderers and Moyale are in high spirits after winning their league matches last weekend 3-1 and 5-3 against Red Lions and Epac FC respectively.
Both Wadabwa and Simkonda netted hat tricks last weekend.
Wanderers, the two time Presidential Cup winners (2008 & 2011) have received a timely morale boost as they regain the services of their former goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa who was signed by Chingale FC of Mozambique at the beginning of this season.
The on nd off Flames goalkeeper will return to Mozambique next season as he awaits some paper work.
Wanderers Team Manager Steve Madeira confirmed the player started training last week and there is a possibility that he might feature against Moyale on Saturday.
“It is true Chipuwa has been training with us since last week and if the coaches gets impressed and decide to feature him, you wil definately watch him in action this weekend” said Madeira.
He also ephasized that all the discussions and paper works concerning Chipuwa have been completed.
Madeira revealed that Chipuwa’s name was already on the list of Wanderers players registered for the 2016-17 season.
This means that Wanderers have four goalkeepers that will be competing for the first choice in goals namely Nenani Juwaya, Bester Phiri, Peter Munthali and Chipuwa.
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