Sulom snubs Ntopwa

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has rebuffed Ntopwa FC, saying the Blantyre-based team will still have to face Mafco and Blue Eagles this weekend in Lilongwe in TNM Super League matches.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda made the statement yesterday in reaction to Ntopwa FC’s request to have the games shifted to later dates as they come much closer to their midweek encounter against defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets and that they do not have funds to fulfil their away fixtures.

“Fixtures were released long time ago and no observations were made.Teams need to learn long-term planning. The public is aware of the fixture so there will be no changes on it,” he said.

But Ntopwa owner and technical director Isaac Jomo Osman yesterday threatened not to fulfil their fixtures this weekend.

“Sulom is very much contributing to the downfall of our team and they want us relegated from the Super League. It is unfair to get pushed like this knowing we are coming from a tough midweek game and we are not financially sound to fulfil an away fixture at present,” he said.

“If they insist we should go to Lilongwe this weekend, we will let them award points to our opponents because we are not travelling. Football Association of Malawi, Sulom and even the government know we need support, but they are not helping us.”

Ntopwa suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bullets on Wednesday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre and are scheduled to meet Mafco at Chitowe Stadium tomorrow before taking on Eagles on Sunday.

Ntopwa, who have not registered a win in their last 12 games, are just a step from relegation zone in the 16-team league with 15 points from 20 games.

They need to avoid losses in their last 10 games to avoid being relegated from the top-flight league.