Presidential Cup finalists intensify preparations

Presidential Cup finalists Big Bullets and Moyale Barracks have stepped up preparations ahead of Sunday’s showdown scheduled for Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial capital, Blantyre.

At stake is K10 million (about $40 000) winner’s purse while the loser will get half the amount.

Bullets general secretary Higger Mkandawire said they have stepped up preparations by going on full-time training while Moyale are also reported to be camping in Zomba.

Bullets said they still have bitter memories of what happened four years ago when they lost to Moyale through the lottery penalty shoot-out in the finals of the Standard Bank Cup.

“The last time we qualified for the finals of a major cup was four years ago and we lost to Moyale in penalties.

“That defeat still pains up to this day and we believe it will be payback time when they clash on Sunday,” said Mkandawire.

The remarkable resilience shown by Bullets in recent times has been a refreshing throwback to their golden era when they, powered by an indomitable spirit, were the kings of the domestic football scene.

Moyale general secretary Major Chilambe confirmed in an interview with Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) on Thursday that his team is in camp in preparation for the final match.

“We have found an ideal place where we are camping,” he said.

Asked to confirm reports that his team was camping at Airwing in Zomba, Chilambe said: “Those reports are true, but we are also training at different places.

“This final is like a war, so our opponent shouldn’t really know the exact place where we are.”

Both teams have never won the Presidential Cup.

Mighty Wanderers, who were the first to win the cup when it was introduced in 2009, have won it twice whereas Civo United have won it once.