Blantyre Derby in 2020 Charity Shield

Victoria Chanza (center) Ecobank Head of Commercial,Walter Nyamilandu (Right)FAM President Victoria Chanza (center) Ecobank Head of Commercial,Walter Nyamilandu (Right)FAM President FAM Media Crew

Blantyre city rivals Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Be-Forward Wanderers are set to face each other for the second time in 2020 during this year’s Ecobank FAM Charity Shield having been drawn against each other at an unveiling ceremony at Ecobank headquarters in Blantyre yesterday.

The two football heavyweights will play the opener of the charity shield on April 5 having faced each other two weeks ago in the Energem International Bonanza in a match Bullets won 4-3.

The draw has pitted Nyasa Big Bullets against Be-Forward Wanderers in the first semifinal whereas Lilongwe giants Silver Strikers will face Blue Eagles in the second semifinal with the winners expected to proceed to the finals the following day and the losers will play in the third place play offs.

Meanwhile Football association of Malawi-FAM has shifted the dates for the Ecobank Charity Shield which was initially slated for this weekend to the first week of the month of April at a venue to be announced later by the FA.

Football Association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu says the development will not affect the kickoff of the TNM super league which is scheduled to begin on 21st March.

“We know there are a lot of things that will be affected but the shifting was in order. The decision was made collectively with the sponsors and other stakeholders,” Nyamilandu said.

However Nyamilandu said the funds raised during this year’s edition of the charity shield will be used to help Cyclone Idai survivors in Mwalija village in Chikhwawa.

“The 2020 Ecobank FAM Charity Shield focus is on advocating for quality education for all in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 4 .This year's Shield is being held under the theme, ‘Together for Better Education’.

“Using proceeds from the Ecobank FAM Charity Shield, we desire to help in the area of education particularly for the primary going pupils who are failing to access education because of the long distance to their various schools situated in the flood prone areas.

“The situation is being compounded because the only viable road, which takes one hour to walk to the school is impassable due to flooding of river Shire. If nothing is done now, we risk condemning the whole school going generation of Mwalija village into further abyss of untold poverty and miserly and this is why we have decided to partner them to make a positive impact," said Nyamilandu.

Meanwhile Ecobank has increased its sponsorship towards the tournament from K12 million to K18 million.

The bank's Head of Commercial Victoria Chanza said they decided to continue the partnerships with FAM after being impressed with the impact last year's event made on lives of people living with albinism.

In the 2019 edition, FAM in partnership with Ecobank, donated a Ford Ranger with a trailer worth K14 million to the Association of People with Albinism (APAM).

The Shield will be played on 4 and 5 April 2020 and will involve Nyasa Big Bullets, Blue Eagles, Silver Strikers and Be Forward Wanderers.

The Charity Shield is the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility program for Football Association of Malawi which aims to engage, mobilize and inspire football fans, stakeholders and the public towards a charitable cause of national significance.

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Last modified on Thursday, 12/03/2020

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