The top-flight FDH Bank Premiership will go for another two-week break to pave the way for the upcoming international calendar which includes Flames’ back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda confirmed in an interview yesterday that the break will run from November 8 to 21.
| Courtesy of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets
“The window will be respected and that means action [in the FDH Bank Premiership] will resume during the weekend 21-22 November,” he said.
The break comes three weeks after a four-week break for the flagship league after the first round.
At the time, Banda said the first two weeks were meant to give teams a chance to rest while the other two weeks were for international calendar.
Ironically, the most sought-after fixture on the domestic scene, the Blantyre derby, which features FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Wanderers, is scheduled for November 22.
Bullets acting chief executive officer Albert Chigoga said the break will help the club’s technical panel to tune up ahead of the second round, especially the derby.
He said despite sitting at the summit of the log table and registering four straight wins, the People’s Team will not sit on its laurels,
“We do not have the luxury to relax. The break will give the coach and his backroom staff a chance to strategise as the chase for the title gathers momentum,” said Chigoga.
In a separate interview, Wanderers director of football David Kanyenda said: “The international break certainly provides a valuable block of time for physical, tactical and psychological work.
“We will use the time productively to ensure the squad remains in the best possible shape.”
However, Kanyenda said the break will somehow affect their preparations for the derby because some of their players might be away with the Flames.
“As such, we won’t have a full squad together. We respect the Flames’ schedule, but the situation makes it challenging to prepare collectively because sometimes, they return with knocks and fatigued. That said, we will make the most of the break and be ready for the derby.”
Bullets lead the 16-team league with 42 points from 19 games, three above their second-placed rivals Wanderers.
Meanwhile, the two bottom-placed teams, Creck Sporting Club and table-anchors Mafco have also said the break gives them a chance to fine tune in a bid to avoid relegation.
Creck Sporting coach Ernest ‘Wire’ Mtawali said: “The break will give us an opportunity to work on our shortfalls, especially finishing so that we can bounce back stronger.”
Mafco coach Ted Kalinda said they will work on improving their attack during the break.
