The draw was conducted even when some regions and districts are yet to identify champions.
But the competition’s organising chairperson Trouble Kalua and FAM competitions manager Casper Jangale justified the move, saying they were facing a race against time.
Said Jangale: “We are already behind schedule as the calendar was affected due to the mourning period of former president Bingu wa Mutharika.
“We should be able to identify the remaining teams in the next few days.”
Kalua said the national play-offs in all the three regions are scheduled to start this weekend and will run up to next weekend.
“There will be national team engagements next month. So, we have to try as much as possible to conclude the national play-offs by the end of this month,” said Kalua.
He said after the national play-offs, there will be a national draw.
Kalua said 17 teams will qualify from the national play-offs to join the 15 Super League teams.
“The North will contribute four teams whereas as the Centre and the South will provide five and eight teams respectively,” he said.
Nchalo Medicals director Daudi Osman Nguwo, who attended the draw, described it as free and fair.
“It was a fair process and it was good that clubs and the media were invited,” Nguwo said.
