Silver Strikers Reserves retain Nyasa Capital Finance Cup
Silver Strikers Reserves FC on Saturday retained the Central Region Nyasa Capital Finance Cup title after beating defending champions St Gabriel Zitha FC 1-0 in the final game at Nankhaka Stadium.
This was their second title in three years after winning the inaugural edition in 2021 .Last year, they lost in the final to St Gabriel Zitha FC.
Lasuli Jali made the difference after scoring the lone goal in the 15th minute when he headed home a cross from Madalitso Maso.
However, Silver Reserves defender Innocent Mtonga was red-carded in the 85th minute after a foul on Mathews Hamuza.
Silver Strikers Reserves coach Macdonald Yobe commended his charges for defending the victory, saying it was a tough match.
“Let me congratulate the boys for managing to defend the lead. It was a tough game which could have been won by either side,” he said.
However, St Gabriel Zitha FC team manager Ringo Kashulu Mtema blamed the players for failing to tick, especially in the first half.
“It was a good game, but there was poor communication from our players in the first half.”
“We saw great improvement in the second half and they pressurized. They created chances but failed to score, I think it was not a good day for us,” he said.
To reach the finals, St Gabriel Zitha FC beat Mchinji Boma Strikers 4-2 while Silver Strikers Reserves saw-off Kawinga FC 1-0.
As champions Silver Strikers Reserves received a trophy and K1.6 million while St Gabriel Zitha FC as runners-up got K650 000.
Kawinga FC and Mchinji Boma Strikers received K300 000 and K200 000 for finishing on third and fourth positions respectively.
Blue Eagles Reserves Striker Umar Mustapha and Namitete Zitha’s Mathews Hamuza finished as joint top goal-scorers with five goals. They will share K100 000.
Nyasa Capital Finance Limited board chairperson Joseph Manoka assured that they will sponsoring the competition.
“I can assure you that Nyasa Capital Finance Cup is there to stay. We already committed. The board will have a meeting to decide how much money to sponsor,” he said.
Central Region Football Association (CRFA) vice-general secretary Antonio Manda, hailed Nyasa Capital Finance Limited for supporting the sport.
The company signed a three-year contract in 2021 which has ended this year. This year’s sponsorship was at K23 million each in all the three regions.
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