By Vinjeru Ngwira
The first day of the 2024 FAM National Beach Soccer Finals featured unexpected twists in both Group A and Group B, as the defending champions, Beach Eagles, struggled to secure a semifinal spot.
Group A saw three teams: Vinthenga, Nyasa, and Deep Bay, while Group B included Tourism, Black Eagles, and Beach Eagles.
Nyasa dominated Group A, winning two matches to finish at the top and secure a semifinal spot. Deep Bay also earned a place in the semifinals, securing second place in the group.
In Group B, Tourism topped the table with two victories, also advancing to the semifinals. The defending champions, Beach Eagles, secured second place, ensuring their semifinal spot.
The first semifinal will feature Nyasa against Beach Eagles, while Tourism will face Deep Bay. A total of 53 goals were scored on Day One of the tournament.
After Day One, Force Ngwira, Chairperson of the National Beach Soccer Association, expressed gratitude for the impressive performances of the teams, praising the high level of competition.
He also commended the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) for their support in boosting the tournament’s sponsorship.
Ngwira personally committed K1 million to the champions, increasing the total prize pool from K4.5 million to K5.5 million.
The runners-up will receive an additional K500,000, bringing their prize money to K4 million, up from the initial K3.5 million. The third-place team will now receive K2.7 million, an increase from K2.5 million.
The 2024 FAM National Beach Soccer Championship is sponsored with a K50 million prize pool.
Photo file FAM