Rachael Kaphaizi
It was a sunny afternoon at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe as fans gathered for the highly anticipated Airtel Top 8 Cup quarterfinal match between Silver Strikers and Dedza Dynamos.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams in the Airtel Top 8 competition.
Silver Strikers, with seven appearances in the Airtel Top 8, aimed to maintain their dominance. Dedza, on the other hand, aimed to make history in their second appearance.
The first leg got off with an impressive start, with Silver Strikers securing a convincing 4-1 victory. The win gave them a crucial advantage heading into the second leg.
After a disappointing result, Dedza coach Andrew Bunya expressed his frustration with the officiation.
“We tried to contend them after they scored their first goal, but unfortunately our referees gave in a loose ball, there was a dead ball, it was played on a wrong spot, we didn’t react on that ball for our players to concentrate and it coasted us a goal,” he said.
However, Dedza remain determined to overturn the deficit and reach the semi-finals for the first time. Their previous Airtel Top 8 campaign ended in quarterfinal heartbreak, and they are eager to write a history in this year’s tournament.
Silver coach Peter Mponda was happy to have scored four goals but said the match is not yet over as they need to travel to Dedza for the second leg match.
“They are capable to score four in Dedza, so we will be ready to face them there,” he said.
Silver scored their goals through a Chinsinsi Maonga brace, Zebron Kalima and Chimwemwe Idana while Chifuniro Mpinganjira scored a consolation goal for Dedza.
Silver Strikers is the highest scoring team in the first leg of the quarter finals with Dedza Dynamos the only team managing to score away.
Last week FCB Nyasa Big Bullets scored 2 past Civil Service United, Chitipa United scored the same number of goals past Kamuzu Barracks while Mighty Mukuru Wanderers scored one past Bangwe All Stars with all visiting teams failing to score a goal.
Line ups:
Silver Strikers:
Pilirani Mapira (𝐆𝐊), McDonald Lameck, Innocent Shema, Maxwell Paipi (𝐂), Dan Sandukila, Uchizi Vunga, Chimwemwe Idana, Levison Maganizo, Zebron Kalima, Charles Chipala and Binwell Katinji.
Dedza Dynamos:
Donnex Mwakasinga (GK), Dan Mponya, Khumbo Banda (C), Trevor Kalema, Frank Chikufenji, Edward Dakalira, Geoffrey Tika, Victor Lungu, Gift Magola, and Chifuniro Mpinganjira.
