…as the Soldier win over Wanderers
Skipper Paul Ndlovu played for Mafco ten years ago when the side played in its last-ever cup final and today his fourteenth-minute header proved worth it as the Salima-based side claimed a narrow 1-nil win over Mighty Mukuru Wanderers to make it into the finals of the FDH Cup.
Ndhlovu rose the highest from a Dan Chimbalanga cross to head past a rather isolated William Thole in goals for the Nomads.
The goal had come when the sides were yet to settle and when the Nomads’ defense made several costly mistakes through Lawrence Chaziya and Peter Cholopi.
After just ten minutes Cholopi played the ball to Chaziya, whose missed judgment had the ball cleared at last gasp by Thole as Walusungu Mpata nearly converted from close range.
Another similar fashioned error led to the corner which Ndlovu converted and it just proved to be the sole goal for the match.
The home side, grilled by immense pressure from its fans had made continued efforts through Felix Zulu, Gaddie Chirwa, and Wisdom Mpinganjira but Christopher Mikuwa in goals for Mafco had just been in top form on the day.
The former Mighty Tigers goalie was equal to the task twice denying Chirwa and Mpinganjira. He later pulled a point-blank save just past the half-hour mark when Christopher Kumwembe capitalized on a lowly taken cross by Mpinganjira.
The visitor held on to claim the win and nearly had another goal with five minutes left when substitute Peter Kasonga took a bicycle kick only to be parried by Thole.
Ndlovu was later named Man of the Match on an emotional day in which he told the media that he would leave to remember.
His coach Prichard Mwansa was on cloud nine and could not hold his emotions.
‘’Today, we are not glad that we have broken our record and that we won against Wanderers in their backyard given all the chances they found. We were tactical enough and I am very glad with the club. Our preparations for the final will start very soon,’’ he said.
His opposite number Mark Harrison said: ‘’It was not just our day. We missed chances we should have taken. We didn’t turn up in the first 30 minutes. We gave away a silly goal from a set piece which we should never concede. Second half we had 85 to 90 percent possession, getting into good areas, but we never created a chance worthwhile. We didn’t create enough chances. So, we don’t deserve to be in the final.”
Mafco last made it to a cup final in 2013 when they claimed a 10-9 post-match penalties win over Silver Strikers after a barren draw until normal time making them winners of the Presidential Cup.
The side will now play in the final against the winner between defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Dedza Dynamos on September 24, 2023, at Kamuzu Stadium.
This year, FDH Bank has among other incentives increased the prize money for the winner from MK25 million to MK30 million.
