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No single member of the previous Blantyre and Districts Darts League (BDDL) retained a seat during the league’s elections at Blantyre Sports Club on Saturday.
Duncan Karim, who headed the league for two consecutive terms, lost the seat to new broom Charles Msusa whereas Harry Msiska and Chipiliro Mzanda failed to retain their seats as vice-chairperson and general secretary, respectively.
Msiska lost to Palije Nyirenda whereas Mzanda lost to Dio Surtee.
Karim, Msiska and Mzanda were the only active BDDL members seeking re-election. The league’s 15 teams were represented by 43 candidates in the elections.
The other positions have been taken as follows: Chifundo Tenthani (vice secretary); Brave Chirwa (treasurer). But the most contentious battle was for the vice-treasurer, where Joseph Kanyongolo needed a rerun to beat Nathan Chasowa by two votes. At first, the two tied at 21-21.
While conceding defeat, Karim urged the new executive to work with dedication and passion to develop the sport.
On his part, Msusa, who will lead the league for two years, said although the body already has Deekay Suppliers, Abdul Gaffar and Vista Bravo as sponsors, he will still strive to get more sponsors.
“Moreover, we need to change the image of this sociable game. We need to move it away from being viewed as a game of drunkards to a pastime for everyone,†said Msusa.
According to Darts Association of Malawi (DAM) president Isaac Kaneka, who monitored the polls alongside his deputy Dean Pinto, treasurer Thom Kachale and tournaments director Charles Katola, the elections were free and fair. But they urged the new committee to work to the people’s expectation.
