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Evirom, Mzuzu United relegated

An Evirom player beat a BT United opponent in a league encounter
An Evirom player beat a BT United opponent in a league encounter

In only their first season in Malawi’s top-flight football league, Evirom and Mzuzu United have failed to stand the heat and relegation is staring them in the face.

Evirom’s fate was confirmed on Sunday when they lost 2-4 to current leaders Mafco. They are second from the bottom with 20 points from 26 games. That puts their maximum points at 26 points and they cannot go beyond 13th position.

Evirom director and financier Emmanuel Viola confirmed his team’s fate, which he blamed largely on match-fixing.

“I have learnt a lot of lessons during our stint in the Super League. It has been quite an experience, but the major one is that it is a rough terrain where several factors, in particular match-fixing, come into play,” said Viola.

He also did not spare the Super League of Malawi (Sulom), saying they deliberately shifted some of their games from Kamuzu Stadium to advance interests of other teams.

“We were good playing at Kamuzu Stadium and that is why we were able to beat teams such as Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles, but I would like to say that we will be back and stronger,” said Viola.

Mzuzu are bottom of the table with 12 points from 25 games. Even if they win all their games, they will be far from surviving the chop.

Out of the three teams that earned promotion from the regional leagues at the start of the season, only Mponela United, who are currently third from the bottom with 23 points from 24 games, have a chance to survive and will be involved in survival battle with Civo United, Epac and Blantyre United.

With the league destined to go down to the wire, Mafco have dislodged fellow military side Red Lions from the top of the table. Mafco now have 42 points from 25 games, just a point above the Lions who lost 2-1 to Kamuzu Barracks on Sunday.

Silver Strikers now occupy the second position with 41 points just like Lions, but the Bankers have a superior goal difference and have played a game less (24 games) compared to both Mafco and Red Lions.

Interestingly, Mighty Wanderers also have 41 points, but are fourth because of an inferior goal difference although they, too, have a game in hand. KB complete the top five with 40 points from 24 games.

As the Lions staggered in the mist of the disappointment of the defeat at Zomba Community Centre ground on Sunday, team manager Alexander Saka fell prey to emotions and blamed goalkeeper Brighton Ngwenyama for conceding what he described as two silly goals.

“We have lost because of the goalkeeper, he has conceded silly goals,” said Saka.

Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda and Silver chairperson McDonald Mafuta-Mwale said they still have a good chance of winning the title.

 

 

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