Chikhwawa United took a giant leap towards TNM Super League promotion on Saturday, but the Peter Mutharika Southern Region Football League (SRFL) is concerned about the team’s survival prospects in the elite league.
SRFL vice-general secretary Kingsley Simbeye said this yesterday after hosts Chikhwawa thumped Mangochi United 6-1 on Saturday, thanks to Dave Chadewa’s foursome to move six points clear, needing just four points to seal the Premier Division championship title.
“They [Chikhwawa] asked us for our opinion on their performance and we were frank that if they are to withstand the Super League heat, they need beefing up. The Southern Region Coaches Committee shares similar concerns. We think coaches should also help Chikhwawa to identify players. The same would be the case if Cobbe get promoted,” Simbeye noted.
No Premier Division champion has survived in the Super League beyond a season in the last four seasons. Evirom, Bvumbwe Research, Cobbe Barracks and Zomba United were relegated after a season.
After an uncharacteristic 2-0 loss to Ndirande Icons at Kamuzu Stadium on Thursday, Chikhwawa chairperson Owen Chomanika, admitted: “Our team needs beefing up in all the departments.”
When Chikhwawa thumped Mangochi on Saturday, the other goals came from Ian Banda and Mtumbe Zongoloti.
Chadewa has since replaced Green Hawks’ Andrew Kamlete (25 goals) as the Premier Division leading scorer on 26 goals.
Chikhwawa have 78 points with—two games to go—six points ahead of second-placed Cobbe Barracks who walloped Mwanza Eagles 7-1 on Sunday.
Cobbe also have an outside chance of promotion as they have three games in hand while Zomba United lie third on 63 points after defeating Tigers Reserve 2-0 on Saturday.
Full results: Saturday: Zomba United 2 Tigers Reserve 0, Chikhwawa United 6 Mangochi United 1, White Bullets 2 BNC Produsak 2, Bvumbwe Research 3 Brave Warriors 1, White Eagles 1 Changalume Barracks 2, Prison United 2 Mwanza Eagles 0, Green Hawks 2 Nyasa United 5. Sunday: Mwanza Eagles 1 Cobbe Barracks 7, BNC 2 Prison United 1, Kabula United 2 Mangochi United 1, White Eagles 4 White Bullets 0, Tigers Reserve 2 Ndirande Icons 3.
