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Lloyd Chitembwe

Sports Reporter
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe has saluted the Financial Services Soccer League for their efforts in developing the game and revealed his admiration for the tranquillity at their matches. The reigning Castle Lager Premiership Coach of the Year was guest of honour at the launch of the FSS’s season-ending knock-out tournament, the Paynet Cup, which is bankrolled by local financial services company Payserv on Saturday night.

Chitembwe, who guided CAPS United to the domestic championship last year and a place in the 2017 Champions League group stage, also handed over the FSS League championship trophy to FBC Bank, who claimed the 2017 title on the final day of the league programme earlier on Saturday. While members of the FSS expressed their admiration of Chitembwe’s achievements in which he stands out as the most decorated CAPS United player with three Premiership championships and a host of medals from knock-out tournaments under his belt, the Green Machine legend also spoke of his appreciation of the efforts being made by those in the financial services in developing the game at their level.

“It’s really an honour for me to be here and to be called to be a guest for the league. The people in the league work tirelessly for little or no reward in organising these competitions and playing their part to develop our football.

“To run a 16-team tournament is not easy at all and in the PSL we have had a lot of games that have had to be abandoned but in the FSS I have noticed that there is some order in the way you go about your fixtures and that is commendable,’’ Chitemwbe said. Chitembwe also noted that a number of players have been given the platform to horn their skills in the league. With the league championship having been decided, focus has now shifted to the Paynet Cup where hosts and holders Standard bank will be hoping to retain the silverware they won with victory over CBZ.

By virtue of their final log standings, league champions FBC, runners-up Standard Bank, third-placed CABS and Old Mutual, who finished fourth were seeded in the Paynet Cup. Chitembwe helped conduct the draw for the 16-team tourney whose group games are scheduled for November 4-5 with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final scheduled for November 11 at Standard bank Sports Club. FSS chairman Kudzai Kwangwari is optimistic that there will be quality football at this year’s tournament.

“Standard Chartered Bank were the surprise 2016 winners after pipping CBZ in last year’s final. FBC were third after beating Ecobank. For the record ZB Bank has had more say to the Cup and they won it three times in a row at some stage. As you can see this is now a new trophy which was won by Standard Chartered Bank. It’s up to Standard Chartered Bank to win it three times to have it permanently. We are very happy for this opportunity to be partnered by Payserv for quite some time now. Having been partners in business with banks for over 10 years now and also having enjoyed a very good working relationship, this partnership, albeit in a soccer tournament, is just one of many instances where our relationship of mutual trust and cooperation has enabled us to achieve something that is praiseworthy. “For those of us who don’t know, Paynet is payments platform provider that has allowed bank customers to make secure, cost effective and convenient electronic payments wherever they are for many years.

Paynet Cup Draw:

Group A: FBC, CBZ, Agribank, Steward

Group B: Standard Chartered Bank, Nyaradzo, IPEC, Ecobank

Group C: CABS, ZB Bank, RBZ, Payserv

Group D: Old Mutual, FML, NSSA, ZB Life