Giants Avoid Each Other in Castel Challenge Cup Draw
The opening game will witness Silver Strikers facing Simso Innobuild League side Ekwendeni United.
Blantyre, Malawi — The Football Association of Malawi has unveiled the fixtures for the inaugural Castel Challenge Cup last 16, with an exciting lineup of matchups that will keep football enthusiasts on the edge of their seats, writes Victor Musongole.
In a draw ceremony held at Mpira Village in Blantyre, 16 teams discovered their opponents in the K320 million tournament, making it the most lucrative cup competition in the country with 934 teams from nationwide participating.
The opening game will witness Silver Strikers facing Simso Innobuild League side Ekwendeni United.
The second game will feature the winner between FCB Nyasa BB and Soche Socials taking on Civil Service United.
Red Lions will clash with Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the third game, while Chitipa United will face White Eagles in game four. Bangwe All Stars and Mafco will battle it out in the fifth game, and game six will see Moyale facing Mighty Tigers.
Dedza Dynamos will lock horns with Ekwendeni Hammers in game seven, and the eighth game will involve Lilongwe-based Kamuzu Barracks against Blue Eagles.
The quarterfinals are poised to be intense, with matchups like Silver Strikers or Ekwendeni United against Kamuzu Barracks or Blue Eagles, and Nyasa Big Bullets/Soche Socials against Dedza Dynamos and Ekwendeni Hammers.
The winner between Red Lions and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers will face Moyale Barracks and Mighty Tigers. The last quarterfinal will feature the winner between Chitipa and White Eagles against either Bangwe All Stars or Mafco.
Lavern Chitakata, Head of Corporate Marketing and Communication for Castel, expressed satisfaction with the competition, stating, "The presence of premier division teams in this stage shows that our goals of unearthing talents are being achieved."
Football Association of Malawi General Secretary, Alfred Gunda, echoed the excitement, saying, "It is an exciting draw. As Fam, we are happy that we have managed to stage the cup under the tight fixture, and the cup will develop talent through organized football."
Individual awards await outstanding performers, with Player of the Tournament, Golden Gloves, and Golden Boot recipients earning K500,000. The Discovery of the Tournament will receive K250,000, while the Player of the Match in each game will be rewarded with K50,000.
The inaugural winner of the Castel Challenge Cup will be awarded K50 million, with the finalist taking home K25 million.
Semifinalists will pocket K10 million, quarterfinalists will receive K5 million, and the last 16 losers compensated with K1.5 million.