Blackpool ‘no more’

Once giant-killers, Blackpool, are as you read this, football history after closing shop in February.

They are the third Peter Mutharika Southern Region Football League (SRFL) side to collapse this season.

Blackpool coach Sammy Ngwira confirmed recently that the Premier Division team disbanded due to lack of sponsorship as its owner, Ben Sawanga, relocated to Zimbabwe last year.

SRFL vice-general secretary Kingsley Simbeye on Wednesday said the Ngwira-coaching panel released players as free agents after futile attempts to seek sponsorship assurance from Sawanga.

“Under pressure from players, the coaches sought our intervention. I called Sawanga in Zimbabwe and he pledged continued sponsorship. I followed up with his younger brother upon his return from Zimbabwe, but he said there was no word from his brother regarding the team. Both are now incommunicado,” explained Simbeye.

SRFL chairperson Trouble Kalua on Monday said Blackpool would forfeit its 36 points garnered in 27 games. The club is, as per current 18-member log table, second from bottom.

“Our rules and regulations are clear that if a team withdraws before the end of the first round, the results of its games become null and void. If a team withdraws in the second round, it loses all its remaining games and the clubs it was supposed to play against earn maximum points and a two-goal margin win,” said Kalua.

Blackpool, who groomed players such as Henry Kabichi, Kelvin Malikebu, Yamikani Tambala, Green Harawa, Chimwemwe Chakhumbira and McDonald Harawa, got Super League relegation in 2011 season. Other Premier Division clubs National Statistics FC and Max Bullets also closed shop this season.

Sawanga, who is also Big Bullets general secretary, recently told Nation Online from Zimbabwe that he would return soon. Bullets chairperson Malinda Chinyama recently said they still considered Sawanga as their official.