Silver triumph

Silver Strikers yesterday became the inaugural Be Forward Cup champions after beating Epac FC 1-0 in a thrilling finale at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe. The goal was an own goal scored by Justin Kamanga in the dying minutes of the game.
There were scenes so lovely at the stadium as the Bankers celebrated the two-day mini tournament success and no one could blame them if they felt like flying considering that the showcase attracted the country’s football giants including Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers who did not make it into the finals.

 
For winning the tournament, Silver carted home K2 million and the cup, a fitting prize for sweating 180 minutes. Epac got K1 million consolation.
Playing ealier on, Wanderers finally broke the jinx that has haunted them for sometime this season against their age-old rivals Bullets with a 1-0 win in a third-place play-off.
Realistically, this was not a win to boast about, but still it cheered the spirits of all those associated with the bluse side of town considering all the misery they have gone through this season, in particular against the People’s Team.

 
This was only Wanderers’ second win in nine meetings, two of which ended in draws while Bullets won five, including back-to-back Super League triumphs, and, of course, the Carlsberg Cup semi-finals.
The clock was not lying and there were just right minutes left before the final whistle when Mapopa Kaunda struck the lone goal and the winner for the Nomads to send ‘Nyerere’ into delirium.
The Nomads went away with K500 000 for finishing third while Bullets got a K250 000 consolation.