CRFL teams defy relegation three years running

Central Region Football League (CRFL) will from next season contribute seven teams to the Super League, having defied relegation for a third consecutive year.

The revolution of football started with Mafco, then Epac, followed by Kamuzu Barracks who have all survived relegation at the expense of teams from the North and South such as Embangweni United, Eagle Strikers, Cobbe Barracks, Blackpool, Zomba United and this season’s Kabwafu, Bvumbwe Research and Escom United.

Central Region Football League chairperson (CRFL) Dean Josiah Banda attributed the success of his teams to organised football.

“We ensure teams in the Premier League get points on merit and not through short-cuts so that only deserving teams are promoted to the Super League. As chairperson, I will be satisfied when the region contributes eight teams to the Super League,” said Josiah Banda who owns Epac FC.

He said the 2012/13 season has been tough and for his teams to survive relegation shows that football has tremendously improved in the region.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) chief executive officer, Suzgo Nyirenda said Central Region region has an advantage in that their league ends in good time, which gives promoted teams ample time to prepare for the task ahead.

Southern Region Football Committee (SRFC) chairperson Trouble Kalua said the main reason Southern Region teams get relegated is lack of stable sponsorship.

“The same was true of Zomba United,” said Kalua.