Cobbe Barracks grab South Presidential trophy
Cobbe Barracks FC on Tuesday ended their four-year drought of the Southern Region Presidential Initiative on Sports (PIS) trophy with a 2-0 win over Chanco FC in a thrilling final played at Zomba Community Centre ground.
The soldiers, mindful of the fact that they have been reaching the final stages of the competition on three occasions since its inception in 2009, started the game at full throttle. Thoko Banda and Isaac Vizyalona were constant threats to the students’ defence, but thanks to goal-line clearances by defender Innocent Kansuwe.
The students retaliated with a quick counter-attack which saw Pempho Nkhomba being brought down in the goal area, but referee Ben Chongwa saw it otherwise to the disappointment of Chanco fans and players.
Nkhomba was eventually yellow-carded in the process for simulation. Half-time score was 0-0.
Five minutes from resumption, the soldiers went ahead with a 30-metre clinical finish by Tinenenji Nadolo. However, the students thought that they had equalised when Patience Walasi and Gladson Kampenya exchanged neat passes. This resulted in the latter lobbing the ball over an advancing Cobbe goalkeeper, but Chongwa ruled it out for a foul.
Rogers Mhango doubled the advantage in the 60th minute with a low shot past Chanco goal minder Dennis Chinthochi.
Speaking during prize presentation, Southern Region Football Committee (SRFC) chairperson Raphael Humba appealed to government to consider increasing the sponsorship.
“Let me also give credit to all the teams and the organising committees for working together throughout the competition. This relationship ensured that there were very minor cases that were experienced,” said Humba.
