Organisers of the Energem International Football Bonanza have released fixtures of the three-day tournament which will see Nyasa Big Bullets taking on União Desportiva do Songo (UD Songo) from Mozambique in the opening match on Friday.
Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said the four-team tournament, to be played at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, will take a round-robin format with the team that accumulates more points emerging champions.
The second match of the first day will see Be Forward Wanderers taking on Chicken Inn from Zimbabwe.
The second day on Saturday, will see the local rivals swapping their opponents as Wanderers take on UD Songo in an early kick off before Bullets take to the turf to face Chicken Inn.
The mini-tournament will climax with fixtures between the visitors UD Songo and Chicken Inn before the last game involving the rivals Bullets and Wanderers on Sunday.
He said football fans should expect a full dose of international football.
“This year it will even be much better,” he said.
Chicken Inn, who were runners-up in the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League last season, are expected to jet in today.
Chicken Inn spokesperson Tawengwa Hara said they are bringing a strong squad for the mini-tournament as the team is preparing for the 2020 season.
“We will not just be going to Malawi for a tour. We are going there with a particular purpose of assessing our team, marketing our players and to further hoist the Zimbabwe flag in foreign lands,” he said.
UD Songo from Mozambique, who also finished as runners-up in the Mozambican top-flight Mocambola League, will arrive tomorrow.
Flames captain John ‘CJ’ Banda, who plays for UD Songo, said they are ready for the tournament after camping in South Africa fro two weeks.
Ferroviaro de Nampula, who will miss this year’s edition, were inaugural champions after they managed a single win and two draws to finish top of the table in 2019.
Wanderers finished as runners up, Bullets came third while Chicken Inn were fourth.
Last year Bullets invested about K30 million into the tournament which covered accommodation, food and local transport for visiting teams.
This year Bullets have partnered Energem who bought the tournament’s naming rights at K5 million.
The organisers have set a uniform gate fee of K1 500 open stands, K2 000 MBC Stand, K3 000 covered stand and K5 000 for VIP Stands for each match day.
