Kukoma Ntopwa Women have won the Goshen-FAM National Women’s Championship for the second time with a 4-3 post-match penalty victory in the final following a one-all draw in regulation time on Sunday afternoon.
The result at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre helped the Amaghetto Kids’ relive their experience in the 2022 edition when they triumphed 5-3 over Ascent Academy on spot-kicks after full-time ended 1-1.
For their latest success, Ntopwa have received K9million first prize and will represent Malawi at the Cosafa Qualifiers of the CAF Women’s Club Champions League to be held in August.
Defending champions Ascent Academy finished third after thrashing Topik Sisters 6-0 in third-placed match with Faith Chimzimu hitting a hat-trick to win the golden boot with a total of six goals. Leticia Chinyamula, Marriam Mnenula and Fatima Lali scored the other goals.
In the final, Kondawu Banda, the eventual player of the tournament, drew first blood for Ntopwa with a simple tap-in in the 15th minute.
Ireen Khumalo restored parity for Silver Strikers Ladies with a direct free-kick six minutes to time
.Nevertheless, she was red-carded after taking off her shirt in celebration of her goal for a second booking, a development that reducing her team to 10 players for the rest of the match. This was her second bookable offence.
The quality of action on the pitch remained catchy and
When it came to the dreaded post-match penalties, Ntopwa missed once while Silver Ladies flopped twice.
Ntopwa coach Isaac Jomo Osman and some of his charges shed tears of joy after the triumph while their supporters danced and cheered tirelessly.
“This is unbelievable. We got what we wanted. We are back as champions and flag carriers at the Cosafa Champions League. The girls have really made me proud,” said Osman, who was named coach of the tournament.
On his part, Silver Ladies coach Andrew Chikhosi lauded his charges for putting up a gallant fight, saying it was just unfortunate that they missed the opportunity of becoming Goshen national champions for the first time.
In their last meeting in the previous edition, Ntopwa Women beat Silver Ladies (formerly DD Sunshine) 5-3 on post-match penalties after one-all draw.
Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, who is part sponsor of the competition through Goshen City, witnessed the final alongside Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya, National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) chairperson Adellaide Migogo and others.
“I am happy with the entertaining nature of this final. It proved that women’s football is really growing fast and we are happy to be part of the process,” Bushiri said.
He added that Goshen City is committed to continue women’s football support in the country.
On his part, Haiya urged the corporate world and organisation to follow Goshen City’s example of supporting women’s football, which has a great potential of making the country proud at continental and global competitions.
