Ipatas Cup champions get free pass

By MELTON PAIS
DEFENDING Ipatas Cup champions Paga Panthers have been given a saloon passage to the play-offs after NCD leg organisers yesterday awarded the club a free gold pass.
The reason offered by the organisers was that the Panthers were given special preference because of their status as reigning champions.
Despite protests from other teams, the decision endorsed by the Ipatas Cup board will mean the rest of the clubs will compete for the other remaining gold pass.
The announcement was made during yesterday’s quarterfinals with senior tournament officials saying the Panthers had been awarded a “mercy pass”.
Among the other sides in the NCD leg the Agro Bullets secured a preliminary final spot after beating the City Redbacks 7-1. The preliminary finals are expected to be completed today and the gold pass will be awarded to the winner.
CCIC Southern region director Simon Maima confirmed that the Central leg gold pass winners, the Toks Mix Dogs and the National Capital District leg winner would travel to Wapenamanda tomorrow for the regional finals over the weekend.