Nomads have more to prove than Civo: Malawi Standard Bank Cup final

As Mighty Be Forward Wanderers and Civil Service United (Civo) cross swords in the grand final for the Standard Bank Knock-Out Cup at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe this afternoon, the Nomads will have more to prove than the civil servants from Capital Hill, who will only be eyeing their first Standard Bank Cup glory.

A cool K10 million is at stake for the winner of the afternoon encounter, which will see the ground owners playing as guests to the Blantyre based giants following the draw of the tournament conducted at Standard Bank’s head office in the capital city on September 2, 2015.

Civo will be eyeing their first Standard Bank cup glory, having lost twice in the final of the competition. They lost to Azam Tigers on penalty shoot-outs during the 2009 final before bowing out to Moyale Barracks in the same manner during the 2010 final.

Despite the government servants not landing their hands on the trophy, it is the Nomads who have plenty to prove in the afternoon following their impeccable cup record.

The Nomads have not lost in a cup final for close to a decade and are the only side that is yet to taste defeat in a cup competition this season.

Apart from guarding their cup record, the Elia Kananji boys will be out to write another piece of history by becoming the first team to win the Standard Bank Knock-Out Cup three times. They won the cup consecutively in 2012 and 2013 but no other team has won it more than twice.

If the Nomads win against Civo today, they are going to complete a clean sweep of all cup competitions this year, having won the Carlsberg Cup at the expense of rival camp Big Bullets on August 29, 2015.

Team manager Steve Madeira is aware of what is at stake for the Lali Lubani Road outfit: “Our focus is on winning all the cup competitions this season and we have prepared well to achieve our mission. We know Civo is a tough side and they will be playing at their backyard but we have beaten them before at the same ground,” said Madeira in a pre-match interview.

Civo assistant coach Beggie Mwagomba said his side was equally prepared for the showdown.

“We know how Wanderers play and we also know their strengths and weaknesses. We have devised a strategy for them and come Sunday afternoon, the trophy will be ours,” said Mwagomba in his pre-match comment.

According to the prize list released by the competition’s organising committee, the losing finalist is set to walk away K5 million richer with losing semi-finalists Big Bullets and Blue Eagles expected to pocket K500,000 each.

The Standard Bank Cup Honours List

2007 : Silver Strikers

2008 : Moyale Barracks

2009 : Azam Tigers

2010 : Moyale

2011 : Blue Eales

2012 : Be Forward Wanderers

2013 : Be Forward Wanderers

2014 : Silver

2015 : ?

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