Silver Hat-trick: Joseph is Silver’s Moses as his late strike saves Bankers from Civil’s revenge

Nobody saw it coming. Many anticipated the match would be decided by penalties after a cagey, goalless 88 minutes of the Capital City Derby. But Silver Strikers always find a way against their rivals, with Andrew Joseph delivering a dramatic late winner just two minutes from the final whistle.

Andrew Joseph, but this is Moses who took Israelites out of Egypt, but will he lead them to Cannan? It’s a question which has an answer at the end of this

The Central Bankers forced their way past their city neighbors to secure their place in the FDH Bank Cup final for the second time since winning the trophy in 2021. This marks their second cup final this season, having previously fallen to FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the Airtel Top 8 Cup final.

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Victory was never guaranteed for Silver despite their recent dominance in this fixture. Yet they managed to claim their fifth win in the last six derbies, extending their unbeaten run against Civil Service United to six matches since 2023.

All of Civil’s Good Work Undone by Joseph

Before Friday’s match, Civil Service United Head Coach Abbas Makawa delivered a defiant interview, declaring his team was “tired of being beaten by our neighbors” and characterizing Saturday’s encounter as “total war.”

True to his pre-match fighting talk, Makawa and his players arrived determined to end their five-game winless streak against their rivals and extend their impressive 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

They had the heart for it, but once again, the cruel nature of football intervened. In both halves, Civil appeared the more likely to score, yet they couldn’t hold their nerve in the final third to beat Silver Strikers’ commanding goalkeeper, George Chikooka.

Civil Service United’s performance demonstrated why they had been unbeaten in their previous 16 matches before the FDH Bank Cup semifinal (W11, D5, L0). Their defensive strength was particularly evident, with towering center-backs Peter Thuso Ng’ambi and John Dambuleni forming a formidable partnership that was rarely breached.

Striker Dastin Banda signaled Civil’s intent early, forcing Chikooka into a save just three minutes in. Damian Kunje tested the Silver goalkeeper again from a free-kick, while Khumbo Mhone also drew another stop after slicing through Silver’s defense.

Civil’s backline was so effective that they restricted the Central Bankers to zero shots on target in the first half. However, Makawa was forced into an early substitution when right-back Damian Kunje sustained an injury just 35 minutes into the match.

Silver could have snatched a late first-half lead, but neither Andrew Joseph nor Uchizi Vunga could direct their efforts on target.

Civil came agonizingly close to a deserved breakthrough when Yankho Billiati’s curling free-kick struck the right post before halftime. Early in the second period, they knocked on Silver’s door again, but Righteous Banda’s shot sailed over the bar.

Another golden opportunity went begging when Righteous Banda delivered a dangerous free-kick into the path of John Dambuleni, whose tame effort was easily gathered by Chikooka.

After all that endeavor, Civil conceded with just two minutes remaining when their defense momentarily lost concentration. Their wait for a cup final continues—perhaps they can find redemption in the Castel Challenge Cup.

Joseph Proving His Worth for the Bankers

After the match, Assistant Coach Kent Mapopa Msukwa spoke glowingly about Andrew Joseph.

“He’s a young player who was with Chatoloma Admarc last season before joining Chitipa, where he made just a few appearances in the top flight. Wearing the Silver jersey comes with enormous pressure, but he’s managed it exceptionally well. He’s an ambitious young player,” Kent explained.

Joseph scored only three goals in 15 matches for Chitipa United, but he’s already netted five times for Silver Strikers since his mid-season arrival.

He’s vindicating why Chitipa valued him at MK17 million and why top clubs competed for his signature. He’s an exciting young striker whose determination exceeds his physical stature. Silver secured his services for MK7 million plus Samuel Adeyemi, who moved in the opposite direction.

Joseph opened his Silver account against Shire FC in the FDH Bank Cup, then scored twice in CAF Champions League fixtures against Elgeco Plus of Madagascar and Young Africans Sports Club. He also found the net against FCB Nyasa Big Bullets before his decisive strike against Civil.

His strengths include intelligent positioning, physical presence in duels with defenders, and clinical finishing—attributes that mark him as a genuine talent.

In the first half, he had two attempts: a weak header that goalkeeper Rahaman John saved comfortably, and a shot that drifted wide of the right post.

Silver Strikers—the inaugural FDH Bank Cup champions—were pursuing their second final appearance in the competition and, remarkably, their second cup final under head coach Peter Mgangira this calendar year.

The Central Bankers’ cup credentials are well established. In the competition’s debut edition in 2021, they carved a memorable path to glory, eliminating both traditional giants FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers en route to the final. They completed their triumphant campaign by defeating Ekwendeni Hammers—now Mzuzu City Hammers—to lift the trophy.

Their subsequent attempts to reclaim cup glory have been frustrating. Dedza Dynamos eliminated them in 2022, before a heartbreaking 10-9 penalty shootout defeat to Moyale Barracks in the round of 16 in 2023. Last year, Blue Eagles ended their run at the same stage.

This season offered redemption. Having already reached the Airtel Top 8 final earlier this year—defeating Civil Service United in that semifinal—Mgangira’s side was eyeing an impressive domestic cup double over their neighbors.

The historical record makes uncomfortable reading for Civil Service United. Silver Strikers have dominated recent encounters, winning four of the last five meetings with only one draw.

This psychological advantage has been reinforced this season with two victories already—a fact that Civil Service United head coach Abbas Makawa candidly acknowledged is “stinging them hard” and has fueled an intense desire for revenge.

In his bullish pre-match declaration, Makawa characterized Saturday’s encounter as “total war,” while pragmatically accepting that his team entered as underdogs given recent results.

Silver Strikers weren’t involved in domestic competition the previous weekend, having been occupied with continental football. The Central Bankers’ ambitious quest to reach the CAF Champions League group stages ended agonizingly with a 2-1 defeat to Tanzanian giants Young Africans Sports Club.

Mgangira drew positives from the continental experience, suggesting it strengthened his squad’s mental resilience.

“We’re coming from the CAF Champions League, and I think what we learned has given the boys confidence,” he explained. “The advantage is that we’re playing at Bingu National Stadium, where the pitch surface is excellent and there will be no excuses.”

Silver struggled in the first half with only three goal attempts, none troubling the goalkeeper. Uchizi Vunga blazed his shot over the bar from close range.

They remained on the back foot in the second half but generated more opportunities than before. Andrew Joseph received a pass from Lameck, turned sharply, but sent his shot skyward—visibly frustrated with his execution. Silver’s first genuine chance came in the 73rd minute when Joseph unleashed a promising effort from the right edge of the box.

Creativity remains an issue for Silver, who increasingly rely on long throw-ins. Macdonald Lameck delivered one such throw that swept across the goalmouth. Uchizi Vunga attempted to redirect it, hitting the crossbar. The rebound fell perfectly to the towering Joseph, who powered a header into the roof of the net.

It eerily mirrored their previous semifinal meeting when Silver scored late to secure victory—at the same venue, Bingu National Stadium.

Silver Strikers now await the winner of today’s semifinal between FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers in Blantyre.