Welcome to Airtel Top 8 football--where no cold is too harsh, no seat too distant and no night too long when your team is chasing and sniffing glory.

On a freezing June evening at Bingu National Stadium, loyal fans turned the semifinal between Karonga United and Nyasa Big Bullets into a show of heart, fortitude and resilience.

Bundled in thick, floral blankets, some football fanatics braved the chilling atmosphere, proving once again that in Malawi, football isn’t just watched. In fact, it is extraordinarily celebrated.

Their breath flew into the sky like fog, but their spirits remained unshaken.

Above the blankets, faces peeked out like bunches of determined flowers breaking through morning dew. An array of brevity.
Patrick Jim, a familiar soccer fan who seldom is never seen in football matches, was the toast of the chilling night. 

Pictures of him and a few friends uncharacteristically covering themselves in blankets in the stands went viral on the social media. “The night was too cold, but whether football is served cold or hot, I make sure I don’t the miss any action, so, yes, my next shield of comfort was my duvets” A satisfied Jim sounded too poetic.

In the field of action, the atmosphere was absorbing, flee-flowing football, highly intensified in every acre. Like organised criminals, Lloyd Aaron exchanged quick passes with the rejuvenated legs of Peter Banda, inviting Chikumbutso Salima to plant home emphatically in the 26th Minute.

The rupture of the Bullets faithful fans in the terraces, was adorable. Karonga United were never seen recoiling, they never backed-off, and they stood their grounds and took their game into Bullet’s territory.

Patrick Phiri’s was recited in the 54th Minute, hitting the ball with precision to put matters of the night at parity. Defending champions were forced to chase their shadows, as Karonga United looked the most likely side to take the lead in the early minutes of the first half but Allen Chihana failed to convert a golden chance with only to beat Bullets goalie Richard Chimbamba.

Unfortunately, every crocodile has its own day, but nights are reserved for cats.Bullets carried the day winning match 2-1.

Hassan Kajoke against the run of play, in undefined pattern, was left loose to poke home, a last stroke of their hammer, in what was a decider of the pulsating match, played under floodlights.The gala was dismissed, the guard of honour was left to return home, with Big Bullets the first claimants of the glory.

In precedent narratives before the match, karonga officials sounded uncomfortable alarms to play under floodlights, probably for the first time in their history. “We might be chasing our own shadows, our boys have never played at night before” Ramsey Simwaka, General Secretary of Karonga United Football Club, was quoted by Zodiak.

But in contrast, Karonga United were the best team of the night, fighting every yard, without chasing any purported of ghost, real or imaginary.

The Airtel Top 8 night match brought unlimited business opportunities on the sidelines, rarely orchestrated at such hours in the city. Alcoholic beverages sales were at their own peak, as revelers and harbingers were seen loitering around with plastic disposable cups, all foaming to their brims.

The informal assorted merchandise sellers left home with none of their stuff.

Traders who earn their bread and butter in the logistical sector, were the major beneficiaries of the night. Minibus touts, surprisingly in unmarked ‘migodi’ were heard on top of their usual trademark voices…ya Chinsapo…akwere za Kawale…Opita Kwa Kauma akwere… A night of unlimited business. A night that football reigned.