Confusion in Chipiku league
Confusion hovers over the Chipiku Central Region Football Association (CRFA) Premier League championship race.
While the log table released by the league yesterday indicates that Masters Security are already the champions, fixtures secretary Antonio Manda says a pending disciplinary case involving second-placed Holy Cross Ambassadors and Mchinji Boma Stars, has the potential to affect the final standings.
Currently, Masters lead the table with 87 points from 39 games and have three matches to wind up the league, while Ambassadors have 79 points with two games remaining and their maximum points are 85.
Ambassadors lost 1-0 to Mchinji but played under protest, claiming that their opponents featured some ineligible players.
According to Manda, should the disciplinary case go in Ambassadors’ favour, they could have a chance to take their tally to 88 points, a point above Masters. But that would also depend on Masters losing their remaining three games.
Said Manda: “We know that the log table is raising eyebrows, but we have deliberately not declared Masters champions pending the verdict of the disciplinary case.
“Suffice to say all the concerned parties were heard and the verdict will be announced soon.”
Nevertheless, such is Masters’ luxury that they can seal the title this afternoon even without waiting for the league’s verdict should they beat TN Stars.
Masters patron Alfred Gangata declared that no matter what happens, his team will still win the league.
“We are not losing sleep over that. Our title campaign can only be delayed because we have already done enough work to guarantee us Super League promotion.
“In fact, we have already started preparing for a new lease of life in the Super League,” he said.
In the Simama Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) Premier League, high-flying Chitipa United could also clinch the title on Saturday should they beat second-placed Kaporo Stars.
According to fixtures secretary Ollens Msonda, with three games to go, Chitipa have 86 points, eight points above Kaporo.
But the battle for the crown in the K10 million Masters Security Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Premier League is still a tight race between leaders Blantyre United and second-placed Mitra Icons.
United have 75 points from 35 games whereas Icons are trailing by a point from 36 games.
United’s coach Safarao Pompi said they are exercising a lot of caution.
“Unlike in other leagues where the picture is very clear, with us it is totally different because a slip could prove fatal. So, we just have to fight on to the very end,” he said. n
