The 2021 ABSA Cup has already served up some good entertainment for Zambian Football fans following the quarter-final action that took place on the weekend of 14th and 15th March.
This year ABSA Bank Zambia has pumped in a staggering K3.8 million sponsorship in the annual cup competition.
The winners will walk away with K600 000 which was supposed to be the prize money for last year (the competition did not take place due to COVID-19), a 20% increment from the K500 000 Zesco United pocketed in 2019 the last time the tournament was held. The runners-up will walk away with K250 000.
The players however do not have to wait for the end of the tournament as the best performing player in every match walks away with K15,000.
Prison Leopards Tshite Mweshi, Kabwe Warriors’ Prince Mumba, and Sharp Konkola Blades goalkeeper Willard Mwanza have already walked away with the handsome token of a K15,000 for their brilliant showing in their respective teams’ matches.
Mwanza helped Blades edge Forest Rangers 1-0, Mumba was impressive as Kabwe Warriors fought tooth and nail against Sensational Zanaco only to be eliminated on post-match penalties.
Mweshi was the darling of the crowd as Prison Leopards went toe to toe with Lusaka Dynamos and was rewarded for his efforts though not enough to see his team through to the semifinals.
The semifinals will see two explosive matches coming alive as Lusaka Dynamos face Zanaco while Zesco United square off with National Division One log leader, Konkola Blades.
Young players like Chanda Mukuka, Enock Sakala Jnr, Owen Tembo, and Derrick Bulaya have a chance to put their name in the hat for the K15,000 up for grabs.
The amount for man of the match alone is motivation enough for the players to put up good performances not to talk of the trophy and money the winner of the tournament will walk away with on the weekend of 24th and 25th April.
ABSA Cup Semifinals | Saturday 17th April 2021
12:30 Lusaka Dynamos vs Zanaco, Arthur Davies Stadium, Kitwe.
15:00 Zesco United vs Konkola Blades, Arthur Davies Stadium, Kitwe.
