Army chief speaks on lower league teams

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander General Griffin Supuni-Phiri has said they plan to maintain four teams in the elite Super League.

Supuni-Phiri was responding to a question on what would happen should any of the second-tier league sides earn promotion into the Super League.

“A lower league side can only have a chance to play in the Super League in the event that their promotion coincides with one of the four Super League teams being relegated.

“The plan is that we should have one team from each region; thus Southern, Central, North and Eastern regions.

“The lower league teams can be used as feeder teams for the Super League teams, whereby outstanding players can be drafted into those teams,” said the commander after the MDF Sports Festival held at Malawi Armed Forces College (Mafco) in Salima.

Currently, Chilumba Barracks top the Simama Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) Premier League while Cobbe Barracks and Support Battalion have also started on a good note in the South and Centre second-tier leagues.

He also reiterated the army’s support for all its teams.

Currently, MDF has four teams in the Super League namely champions Kamuzu Barracks (KB) who are based in Lilongwe, Mafco from Salima, Mzuzu-based Moyale and Red Lions from Zomba.

Lions currently top the TNM Super League with 11 points.

Last year,  MDF announced plans to reduce the number of teams in the Super League from four to three as part of a sports sector reforms in response to economic problems.

But speaking when KB were crowned 2016 Super League champions, Supuni-Phiri changed tune, saying all the four teams would retain their elite league status.

“All our four teams playing in the top league will continue,” he said, adding: “That is the decision we have made.”