The long wait is over and the battle lines have been drawn as the much touted prestigious 2024 FDH Bank National Cup draw is out, and 32 football teams are expected to battle it out for the glory, prestige, and of course, the money.
Exciting but unexpected football drama awaits the football lovers and fans in the country as exhilarating and gladdening fixtures awaits them with each and every team setting their sights on the ultimate prize.
The draw was colourfully conducted Tuesday morning at the maginifient Mpira offices in Chiwembe township in the commercial city of Blantyre, attended by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and FDH bank officials.
According to FAM, the cup will attract 32 teams with 16 coming from the Super League and the other 16 from the three regional leagues.
The country’s soccer governing body in a statement said the regional preliminary round is almost complete with the Southern Region remaining with one fixture involving Ndirande Stars and Ekhaya FC while Central and Northern regions have finished their games.
A total of 70 Regional League teams took part in the preliminary phase, FAM says, the Southern region and Central region had 21 teams each while the North had 28 teams.
FDH is sponsoring the cup to the tune of K150 million.
FAM’s Competitions Director, Gomezgani Zakazaka said “We are excited with how we have progressed from the preliminary level where we have come up with the 16 regional league teams to join the 16 Super League teams at the national level.
“The draw is exciting as we have three matches involving Super League teams and five matches involving regional league teams.
“It’s always a dream to see surprises in this prestigious knockout competition and just like the previous editions in which Bullets Reserves reached the final and Santhe Admarc reached the last eight, we are looking forward to another surprise package in the fourth edition.
FDH bank’s Senior Marketing Manager, Ronald Chimchere, said as sponsors they are looking forward to yet another exciting season in the competition.
“This is another exciting moment. We have seen very exciting fixtures in the Round of 32 and a possible Blantyre Derby in the Round of 16. This tells us that we will have another entertaining season ahead.
“As a bank, we also focus much on motivating regional teams, and that’s why we always equip them to compete at the national level. We know it is a very competitive cup with surprises, and we are looking forward to seeing a surprise package of this edition,” he said.
The qualified teams for the National draw are as follows:
The top tier football league, the Super League will be represented by the following teams; Silver Strikers, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, Kamuzu Barracks, Mzuzu City Hammers, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, Clerk Sporting Club, Moyale Barracks, Civil Service United, Premier Bet Dedza Dynamos, Karonga United, MAFCO, Mighty Tigers FC, FOMO FC, Bangwe All Stars, Chitipa United and Baka City.
The following teams; Nyambadwe United, Soccer Rangers, Cobbe Barracks, MMF Marine and the winner between Ndirande Stars and Ekhaya FC will rep[resent Southern Region Football League.
As for the Central Region Football League, the following teams; Santhe Admarc, Simbi FC, Mitundu Baptist, Ntcheu Warriors and Blue Eagles will participate in the national .
The Northern Region Football League will be represented by Chintheche United, Chihame All Stars, Sporting FC, Lube Masters, Raiply FC and Iponga FC.
The draw
Blantyre football giants and habitual defending champions FCB Nyasa Big Bullets FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, who emerged victorious last year after mercilessly thrashing MAFCO 3- 0 to clinch the title will face a tough test against the battle hardened Bangwe All Stars in the Round of 32 of the FDH Bank Cup, according to the national draw conducted at Mpira Village in Blantyre.
The encounter, set to be played in early July, promises to be a thrilling match, with Bullets looking to advance to the next round.
Bangwe All Stars, on the other hand, will be seeking to cause an upset against the reigning champions.
The winner of this match will potentially face off against Mighty Mukuru Wanderers in the Round of 16, setting up a possible Blantyre Derby.
Wanderers will first need to overcome Cobbe Barracks in their Round of 32 encounter.
The FDH Bank Cup has thrown up several other exciting fixtures, including a clash between Blue Eagles FC and Silver Strikers FC, as well as matches featuring other top teams like Kamuzu Barracks, Moyale Barracks and Karonga United.
“As a bank, we also focus much on motivating regional teams, and that’s why we always equip them to compete at the national level.”
Ronald Chimchere
FDH bank’s Senior Marketing Manager,
