Mzuzu to form select side for Presidential Cup

Mzuzu City will form a select side to participate in this year’s Presidential Cup.

Players from the city have since been called to trials that will result in the formation of the select team.

According to Lackson Mauluka, one of the facilitators of the trials at Mzuzu Upper Stadium, the exercise aims at building a strong squad that can effectively compete for the title in the annual competition.

“Teams representing the city in previous Presidential contests have been failing to go far even at district level, where teams from Karonga and Nkhata Bay have been dominating. This time around we need to have strong side, hence the player selection exercise,” he said.

Mauluka said they had secured sponsorship from undisclosed benefactor who has already bought them boots and uniforms.

The 2016 Presidential Football Cup is expected to kick-off on March 5 and, according to Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions manager Gomezgani Zakazaka, registration for teams has already started.

The competition will start at district level before reaching the regional and the national finals stage on June 30.

District champions will join the top-four regional association teams and 15 TNM Super League sides for national draw.

The Presidential Cup, which failed to take place for the past two years after FAM diverted part of its funding to the Flames activities, was introduced in 2009 by former President the late Bingu Wa Mutharika to promote and develop the sport in the country. n