Save our rookies
For a third year running, statistics paint a hazy picture of gloom hovering on the horizon for the TNM Super League three rookies. It appears this season even the Central Region is unlikely to escape this dangerously falling axe.
What have changed this season are the identities of the relegation candidates; otherwise, Evirom, Mponela United and Mzuzu United, like Bvumbwe Research, Escom United and Kabwafu FC a season before them, need miracles to escape the drop.
For the Northern and Southern Region football leagues, they have for more than three consecutive seasons failed to sustain their new comers in the very season of promotion to the top flight league.
But the Central Region league has in the last four seasons promoted into the Super League worthwhile candidates who survived beyond a season in the likes of Epac, Mafco and Kamuzu Barracks.
However, this season, indications show that every region might end up losing one Super League team. For the South, this might deal a blow to the Southern Region Coaches Committee’s that no team must this region get demoted.
With an average of eight games to go before teams hit the finish line, Mponela were before weekend’s games 13th on 20 points and can only go as far as 41 points if they win their remaining eight games.
This is quite a tall order for the Benjamin Kumwenda-coached side that had at the time of writing this over the weekend managed four wins, eight draws and nine losses.
As of Friday, Evirom had a maximum tally of 38 points with eight games to play. They were placed 14th on 17 points from 21 games, but coach Mario Gadaga vowed to survive in the league.
“I will fight for each and every game and for every point. I am still in the Super League. We will fight until the last game,” Gadaga vowed after beating Blantyre United 1-0 through Harold Zulu’s early strike at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
Despite Gadaga’s optimism, winning just four games in 21 matches is not enough. It is even worse for bottom-placed Mzuzu United.
With just two wins and the league’s worst losing record of 14 matches, the going looks scary for Mzuzu who can only go as far as 32 points. It is a precarious case for Mzuzu as third-placed Big Bullets have already reached 32 points with eight games to the finish line.
To survive, the three teams as of the weekend needed the unlikely generosity of 12th, 11th and 10th positioned Civo United, Blantyre United and Mafco respectively as their maximum in the event of winning all remaining games could be 48 points, 49 points and 53 points.
Civo United general secretary Rashid Ntelela vowed to survive in the league hence the indefinite suspension of Thom Mkolongo for Oscar Kaunda “because if we drop further from the 12th position, then we will be playing under pressure.”
Last season, half way through the campaign, Kabwafu, Escom and Bvumbwe had 10 points, 12 points and 20 points respectively, yet they could not escape the demotion. Therefore, the likes of Mzuzu have their survival job cut out for them.
The bad thing is that when relegated and replaced with three regional league champions, most Super League teams hardly bounce back. Some even die. Ask Michiru Castles, Blackpool, Sammy’s United and Nchalo United.
Lack of time to build up for life in the Super League, exorbitant away games costs and jammed fixtures, always put newly promoted teams at a disadvantage. Add to that gate collections, which are supposed to be teams’ source of income, ending up in fans’ pockets, then matters become complicated.
Evirom owner Emmanuel Viola mentioned the above challenges, noting “with just K4 million, it can make a huge difference and help my team survive.” But who listens?
