Surestream on verge of promotion
Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Premier Division leaders Surestream Academy are on the verge of sealing a dramatic TNM Super League entry.
All the academy need to do is beat Nchalo United at Surestream Stadium in Chilomoni Township today and hope for second-placed Cobbe Barracks’ away loss at Mangochi Police.
If such a double coincident happens, it will be for the first time in the Nsejjere Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) that a team formed two years ago would have achieved a feat of being champions in Division One then the Premier Division in back-to-back seasons.
Going into the weekend, Surestream lead the 23-member standings on 91 points from 45 games — four points ahead of Cobbe.
The Patrick Kulemeka-coached side, wind up the season on March 8 2015 with an away fixture to Machinga ADD. Cobbe finish the season with an old capital city derby against Zomba United on the same day.
Displaying a brand of attractive football rarely seen this decade, Surestream boast gems of players such as Ernest Tambe, Ernest Mwale and Brightone Munthali who are also Malawi Under-20 starlets. The Chilomoni team’s striker-in-chief is Bernard Chimaimba who has netted over 20 goals.
The academy thrill with an interchange of passes that sometimes border on artistry and arrogance as they string 20 uninterrupted passes. However, for all the plethora of openings they create, they do not score enough goals. Evidently, last Sunday their crowning was delayed by a goalless draw against Zomba United.
“We are focusing on the remaining two games against Nchalo and Machinga. We are on the verge of making history as the first team to win Division One and Premier Division championships in two consecutive seasons,” said Kulemeka.
Back in Premier Division after a year’s absence, Nchalo United coach Alex Mwankenenge said they were determined to avenge the first-round 1-0 home loss to Surestream.
“When we met them in the first-round, most of our players were preoccupied with estate league assignments, but now the estate league is over. There is a full-house and expect fireworks,” said Mwankenenge whose scoring hopes are largely pinned on leading striker Alex Mwenitete.
In the K6 million Chipiku Central Region race, Dedza Young Soccer are also on the verge of promotion as they lead second-placed Support Battalion by five points with games to go against Wimbe United and Dowa United in Dedza.
Dedza have 86 points whereas Support have 81 points. Dedza coach Millias Pofela insisted that while the race is not over, “we are definitely going to the Super League”.
Chilumba Barracks lead the Northern Region Premier Division with a five-point cushion, thanks to Komani Msiska’s 50 goals.
The three regional champions will replace Karonga United, Chikwawa United and Blantyre United who were relegated from the Super League last season.
Overall, there are serious questions of the survival of the new comers who do not last beyond a season in the Super League. However, Surestream management has promised more investment in the team once promoted. Chilumba and Dedza claim there is a lot of goodwill to support the teams once promoted.
SRFA fixtures (Kick-off 2.30pm unless stated)
Saturday: Evrom vs Prison United @ BAT; Mangochi Police vs Cobbe Barracks @ MH, Noon; Surestream vs Nchalo United @ Surestream Stadium; White Eagles vs BNC @PTS, Noon; Max Bullets vs Polytechnic@ Sedi, Noon.
Sunday: Nyasa United vs Changalume Barracks @Kamuzu Stadium; Chitakale vs White Eagles @ MJ, Noon; Zomba United vs Green Hawks @ Zomba Works Ground, Noon;
Kabula United vs Machinga ADD @ BAT.
