Blantyre United count on miracle to survive relegation

Blantyre United coach Leo Mpulula has admitted that it is only through a miracle that the team can survive relegation in the TNM Super League following a 0-3 loss to Civo United at Nankhaka in Lilongwe on Sunday.

Following the defeat, Mphembedzu, as Blantyre United are fondly called, are stuck on the 13th place with 20 points. They have three games to wind up the season. Blantyre United have to win their remaining games and hope that 12th-placed Airborne Rangers or 11th-positioned Epac FC lose their remaining three matches. Epac have 27 points while Airborne have 26 points.

Three teams are relegated from the elite league every season. So far it has been confirmed that Chikwawa United and Karonga United have been relegated.

“It is going to be a miracle if we survive relegation,” said Mpulula. “You cannot expect to have chances against a team which is already six-points ahead. Moreover, we cannot realistically promise to win all our remaining games because we lack quality players.”

Mpulula added that Blantyre United already lost the relegation battle before the start of the season when they failed to replace influential players they had sold.

“The team had a ramshackle foundation this season. We sold almost a full squad and since Elia Kananji left to coach Bullets at the start of the season, we did not rope in any new player,” he said.

Mpulula helped Blantyre United (then Escom Reserves) earn Super League promotion in 2010 and settled for a seventh place finish. During the 2012/13 season, the side finished third under Kananji, who was previously Mpulula’s assistant.