Pres Cup top scorer starts at regional level

Presidential Cup Top Goalscorer will be picked from regional play-offs matches to the final, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has announced.

Unlike in other competitions where goals scored in all matches of a tournament are considered, only goals scored after the Presidential Cup preliminary round will count.

FAM competitions manager Gomezgani Zakazaka also announced that the Golden Boot award will be the only individual accolade.

Initially, apart from the Golden Boot award, the Presidential Cup used to have Player of The Tournament, Best Defender, Best Midfielder and Best Goalkeeper.

But FAM changed the set-up due to lack of funds.

“Just like in 2013, we will only award the Top Goalscorer,” said Zakazaka  yesterday.

In-form Mafco striker Richard Mbulu is the current top-goal scorer having netted 16 goals in two matches.

He scored eight goals when Mafco whitewashed Mkweza Youth 15-0 and another eight goals when the soldier thrashed Ambassadors 13-0.

Mbulu, who masterminded last Sunday’s victory over Be Forward Wanderers in TNM Super League, seems poised to take over the Golden Boot award from Moyale Barracks’ Gastin Simkonda, who won the award in 2013 with eight goals.

After scoring the winner in the 3-2 victory over Nomads on Sunday, Mbulu said he was inspired by his Presidential Cup goals.

“My aim is to work hard and win the Presidential Cup Golden Boot award,” he said.

The 2016 Presidential Cup saw 924 teams taking part in the competition.

The district and youth league champions qualified for the regional play-offs where they were joined by Premier League and Super League teams.

Mafco are defending champions having won the cup when it was last played in 2013.

The Salima-based soldiers beat Silver Strikers 9-8 on post-match penalties. n