Dedza date Silver in FDH Bank Cup, Zimkambani aims victory

Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar Football Club will face the FDH Bank Cup holders, Silver Strikers in the Round of 32 of the tournament on Saturday afternoon at Dedza Stadium.

The two teams faced each other on April 18 this year in Super League and the game ended in a 1-all stalemate at Silver Stadium. Zebron Kalima scored for the Bankers while Clement Nyondo was on target for the Dynamos.

Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar Head Coach, Dan Dzimkambani while anticipating a tough game, said his charges are well prepared for the game.

“We aim to get the win and progress to the next round. We are facing a familiar side and we are aware of their kind of play. We played them and the game ended 1-1,” said the former Karonga United manager.

The tactician confirmed that their talented attacker, Clement Nyondo will miss the game as he is yet to recover from the injury he picked against Civil in Super League.

Dzimkambani added that playing at Dedza Stadium will give his team extra energy.

He said, “We are happy now that finally we are able to use our home round and from our previous two games against Ekwendeni Hammers and Civil Service United, the support we had is a great motivation to the team.”

Meanwhile, the Cup defending Champions, Silver Strikers assistant coach, MacDonald Yobe said they will try to get the win and progress to the next round.

The Bankers who have had mixed results in the tnm Super League have finished the first round with two wins in their last two games. They beat TN Stars at home before wrapping up with a victory against Mafco in Chitowe.

Yobe explains, “It will be a tough game and it’s an important game and every player is aware of it. We need to put our effort to progress to the next round. We are ready for the game.”

Silver Strikers beat Ekwendeni Hammers last year at Bingu National Stadium to win the inaugural tournament.

Elsewhere, Mighty Wanderers will miss the services of their veteran striker, Chiukepo Msowoya as they are facing Kamuzu Barracks Reserve at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Chiukepo suffered a hamstring injury while playing for the Flames in South Africa.

Msowoya says, “I wish I could have been part of my team in our first March of the FDH Bank Cup but unfortunately, this won’t be possible as I have been given two-week break.

Wanderers Assistant Coach Joseph Kamwendo described the development as a setback in their quest to surmount their first obstacle in the cup campaign.

“I am yet to meet him but playing without our top striker in our first cup match this season is a setback. But we have a team that is ready to start the campaign on a high note with a win.

“All in all, we will miss Chiukepo but this will be an opportunity for some of our players to show us what they are capable of doing. We have trained well in the course of the week and we will not make the mistake of underrating Kamuzu Barracks Reserve,” Kamwendo said.

Other Wanderers players who returned with the Flames from South Africa on Wednesday are defender Stanley Sanudi and attacker Yamikani Chester.

The Nomads were booted out of last year’s edition of the cup in the semifinals following a 3-0 loss to Silver Strikers at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

In other games, Changalume Barracks will face Mafco in a military affair, Chitipa United play host to TNM Stars at Karonga Stadium, the Flying Soldiers, Airborne Rangers will lock horns with Ekwendeni Hammers while Kamuzu Barracks will face MDF Marine at Civo Stadium. All games will be played on Saturday.

The regional teams have already booked their spots in the round of 16 of the tournament after seeing off their respective opponents last week. Central Region Football team, Kawinga FC overcame Nkhatabay based side, Chintheche United after beating them one nill in a highly contested match at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe and Chiso Hiwa was on target.

Extreme FC booked their spot after beating the Boys through penalties after a 1-all stalemate at Civo. Justice Mahilasi scored for Extreme while Chifundo George was on target for the Blantyre based side.

In Blantyre at Mpira Stadium Kadona Stars and Immigration played to a goalless draw at regulation relying on penalties for Kadona Stars to emerge winners.