Elite clubs go for fresh blood
TNM Super League clubs have this year tapped 59 players from regional leagues, an increase of 30 or 103 percent from last season.
The TNM Super League defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets and TN Stars have each recruited seven players, Silver Strikers, Blue Eagles and Sable Farming follow with six, five and four players respectively.
The Chipiku Stores Central Region Football Association (CRFA) League Premier Division has provided 29 players, 17 more than the previous season.
ThumbsUp Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) League Premier Division follows with 18 players, up from seven last season. The Simso Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) Premier League has 12 players up from five the previous season.
But what has triggered this shift from top-flight league club’s norm of relying on experienced elite league players?
Said Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga: “Unlike most recycled elite league footballers, players coming from the development structures prove to be well-versed in basic football requirements such as ball control, positioning and passes. Our main team’s technical panel hardly. struggles with such talents.
“Nowadays, football is advanced and demands a lot of technical ability that is effectively executed by the energetic youth.”
Last season, Bullets released 12 players, after the expiry of their contracts. These were strikers Chiukepo Msowoya, Zicco Mkanda, Bright Munthali and Luke Chima; midfielders Chimango Kayira, Nelson Kangunje, Dalitso Sailesi, and Ben Manyozo and defenders Sankhani Mkandawire, Miracle Gabeya and Pilirani Zonda, and goalkeeper Ernest Kakhobwe.
Silver Strikers chief executive officer Thoko Chimbali agreed with Chigoga that their knack for young blood is a result of football developments in the country.
CRFA vice-general secretary Anthony Manda on Saturday said they have contributed 29 players to the top-flight league because their players were playing at better venues.
He said: “Due to the playing format we used last season, our players were able to express their full potential on the pitch. Moreover, we played on pitches that were easily accessible by Super League technical panels, who thought of embracing the talent. Previously, we mostly played in bumpy and remote pitches.
“The change of our league’s playing format last season due to Covid-19 was a blessing in disguise because Super League coaches, who hardly came to our games in bumpy and remote pitches, watched our players in stadiums. 2021 was a very special year as we have never had such a remarkable achievement. We are very proud of ourselves.”
According to his SRFA counterpart Kingsley Simbeye, the league has contributed seven players to Bullets, three each to Mafco, Sable Farming and Waka Waka Tigers while Ekwendeni Hammers have drafted in two.
NRFA general secretary Masiya Nyasulu explained that they have sent six players to Rumphi United, two to Ekwendeni Hammers and one each to Moyale Barracks, Karonga United, Blue Eagles and Sable.
