Standard Bank and organising committee fail to decide date for cup final
The main organising committee of the Standard Bank knockout cup has put to rest the debate on when the final of the K15 million cup between Moyale and Blue Eagle, saying it will not be played this weekend but the participating teams have confirmed that they have communication that the final will be played on December 11.
Initially, the final was scheduled for this weekend and all the participating teams were aware of this arrangement only to hear that there have been changes with other quarters suggesting that the final be played on December 3.
Chairman of the main organising committee Jabar Alide told reporters that there have been a mix up because it was clear from the start and the programme released that the final will be played on November 26.
He said there are a lot of things that had to be looked into before coming up with a date for the final.
“There are a lot of commitments on the part of the sponsor we are told and November 26 was not practical on their part and we also had to consider that the flames will be leaving this weekend for the Cecafa cup while the under 20 is also in camp preparing for the Cosafa tournament,” he said.
Alide also said the Football Association of Malawi is also preparing for its annual general meeting and that holding the final on November 26 would have been very difficult but that they are still discussing on the date for the final.
Teams that have reached the finals though, Blue Eagles and Moyale confirmed to Nyasa Times that they have indeed received official communication from FAM that the final has been changed to the December 11.
“After being in the dark on when the final will be played, we have received a word that the final will be played on 11 December. We wanted to know in time so that we can prepare well for the final,and since we have striker Gastin Simukonda in the flames/under 20 camp,we needed to plan,” an official from Moyale told Nyasa Times.
Flames coach Kinnah Phiri told reporters that if he had his way,he wanted the finals to be played this weekend so that his Cacafa preparations and participation is not disturbed.
The main organising committee is yet to release official communication on the date for the final.
Moyale beat Red Lions 3 – 1 on sunday to book a date with Blue Eagles who knocked out Civo 4 – 3 on post match penalties.
