Blantyre Zero are Mutharika League champions

Southern Region Women Football Committee (SRWFC) has declared Blantyre Zero champions of the Arthur Peter Mutharika Southern Region Women Football League after assessing the confusion that rocked the competition’s decisive game a month ago.

During the decider game, Blantyre Zero were leading 3-0 against Zomba City Queens until the latter walked out of the pitch in the 71st minute in protest of Zero’s featuring of Yanjanani ‘Ntonjane’ Pinanji. They argued she was serving a ban imposed on her by National Women Football Committee (NWFC) chairperson Suzgo Ngwira.

Because of this, the SRWFC withheld its stand on the game’s results to assess the validity of the City Queens’ argument.

However, SRWFC chairperson Catherine Chikandula said on Tuesday they have cleared Blantyre Zero because the Zomba-based side did not follow proper procedures for their protest.

“It was against football rules for Zomba City Queens to abandon the game. Apart from that, our national chairperson clarified that Pinanji’s ban did not affect league games,” said Chikandula.

Following SRWFC’s declaration, Zero have finished on top of the log table with 39 points whereas Zomba City Queens are runners-up on 37 points.