Women leagues face hitches

Southern Region Women’s Football League failed to kick off over the weekend following the withdrawal of Zomba City Queens from the competition.

National Women Football Committee chairperson Siveria Chalira said the fixtures were affected by the absence of the Zomba-based side.

“Zomba City Queens pulled out of the league at the last hour after the draw had already been done. This means that the draw has to be done again and hopefully this week the league will start,” said Chalira in a telephone interview from Mzuzu.

She said the Zomba City Council wrote her office that because of logistics problems they are unable to fund the team to play in the league.

“They told us that they will only manage to fund the team to play in the Presidential Cup and not the league. We understand their position,” said Chalira.

In the Central Region, the league failed to kick off because her committee is awaiting rules and regulations of the competition, according to Central Region Women Football Committee general secretary Ella Banda.

“We did not get the rules of the competition in time as such we had to delay a bit. But we hope to begin the league next week,” said Banda.

Meanwhile, Banda said the Presidential Cup will resume this weekend in Lilongwe and Salima.

In Lilongwe, Skippers will face Dowa Sisters at Lilongwe Teachers Training College.

Ntchisi and Lilongwe Stars face off at Kamuzu Institution for Sports.

Salima will host two fixtures—Chilinde Queens against Nkhotakota Police and Kamuzu Barracks against Twinkles.