Standard Bank swayed by tourney’s progress

Standard Bank has said its K20 million (about $66 667) knockout football showpiece, which is now in the semi-final stages, is serving the purpose of moving the game forward.

The bank’s head of marketing Linda Kachingwe-Sisya said they are  swayed by this year’s tournament which has attracted four big guns in the semis—Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers, Silver Strikers and Civo United.

“This year’s tournament is historic in that we have four big teams in the semi-finals and they will all play at one venue [Silver Stadium],” said Kachingwe-Sisya.

Age-old rivals Bullets and Wanderers will set the tone for the semi-finals when they clash on Saturday while the Bankers will host their capital city rivals Civo on Sunday.

She said over the years, the tournament has  helped improve the standards of the game to greater heights, citing the emergence of Blue Eagles winger John ‘CJ’ Banda whose  outstanding performance last year  earned him a place in the national team.

Banda went on to score vital goals for the Flames in 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Chad’s Sao and Nigeria’s Super Eagles, respectively.

“And we have no doubt that this year’s tournament will also produce more talent and help the players in tuning-up for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations decisive qualifier against Ghana.

“It is a coincidence that the tournament has reached the climax at a time when the national team is also preparing for a decisive qualifier against Ghana,” she said.

Some of the key Flames players that will play in the semi-finals this weekend include defenders Pilira Makupe and Foster Namwela, midfielders Chimango Kaira, Frank Banda and Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo and striker Gabadinho Mhango.

Apparently Standard Bank are also one of the main sponsors of the continental showpiece.

Kachingwe-Sisya further said the bank has lined up a number of exciting activities in the countdown to the semi-final clashes.

“Our marketing activation teams will be in full swing, especially in Lilongwe, starting Friday where people will be able to win sports-related items such as golf shirts, T-shirts, mugs, caps and many other items.

“And on Saturday, we’ll have Standard Bank tents at the stadium where people will be able to participate in different games and win prizes just to hype up the excitement,” she said.