Silver dents Standard Bank Cup launch, fans clash with FAM president
Silver Strikers on Saturday afternoon embarrassed Standard Bank, who are the sponsors of the prestigious Standard Bank Cup, when they failed to show sportsmanship after going down to Blue Eagles 1-0 in a ceremonial match played at Silver stadium to mark the launch of the 2012 competition.
As the game was progressing, Silver Strikers supporters who sat in the VIP stand kept on shouting the team’s technical panel and players in the field of play as the team failed to get rhythm and display the expected performance.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu was later involved in a verbal war with one of Silvers supporter identified as Buju as the FAM President tried to offer him advise to behave like sportsman despite a poor performance from his team.
Tempers between the two flared for about three minutes before they were cooled down by high profile people sitting in the VIP including former sports minister Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Flames coach Kinnah Phiri, Central Region Soccer chairman Austin Ajawa among others.
The ill behavior was also witnessed at the end of the match as Silver players went straight into the dressing room without passing though the VIP stand to take part in the prize presentation of the launch.
Blue Eagles received K600, 000.00 for emerging as winners while Silver went home empty handed.
Investigations by Nyasa Times also reveal that there are cracks in the Silver camp as it is reported that some senior players have been quarrelling in readiness for the game.
Nyasa Times has all the evidence that midfielders Peter Pindani and Clement Mvula nearly fought each other during Thursday’s training session and Pindani left the training ground before finishing time.
Reasons for the quarrel are yet to be established.
Silver coach Thom Mkolongo told Nyasa Times after the match that there was indeed friction in the team.
A loss to Blue Eagles is a third consecutive loss after going down to Complex Madrid 2-1 to bow out of this year’s presidential cup as well as losing to Blantyre United by the same margin in a TNM Super League assignment last weekend.
Blue Eagles scored its lone goal in the 67th minute through man-of-the-moment captain John Banda and showcased a gallant fight throughout the match.
Before the football match, several activities took place including a live band performance from the famous reggae band Black Missionaries.
