The sky fell on Mighty Tigers yesterday when they were relegated from the TNM Super League for the first time since the flagship league’s inception in 1986.
The Blantyre-based Kau-Kau Boys failed to escape the murky waters of relegation following their 1-0 loss to Blue Eagles of Lilongwe at Nankhaka Stadium.
Tigers lie second from the bottom in the 16-team top-flight. They have 27 points from 29 matches and even if they win their last match, they will not survive the chop as the team a step above the relegation zone, Goshen City Dedza Dynamos, has 31 points.
In an interview yesterday, Tigers co-owner and technical director Robin ‘Abambo’ Alufandika was at pains to come to terms with the reality.
His voice straining with emotion, the otherwise ever jovial official sounded down and distant.
“It is very sad that it has come to this. We tried to punch above our weight, but it didn’t work. It’s a very sad day for the Tigers family,” he said.
for the Tigers family.
I Nation
“It will take time to sink. It is very painful. That’s all I can say for now.”
Tigers coach Trevor Kajawa also echoed his boss’ sentinents.
He said: “It is painful. I believe the players did not know that we were supposed to win the game and then at the very end, we conceded due to lack of concentration.
“We need to accept that it is part of the game and we move on.”
In a match monitored on Fifa +, the Malawi Police Service side scored the lone goal in the second minute of the second half added time through Ranken Mwale just when it appeared the two teams would share the spoils.
The slender scoreline was a reflection of a contest that ebbed and flowed with both teams creating a plethora of chances, but failed to make them count and in the end the cops snatched the winner with virtually the last kick of the match.
Football analyst Charles Nyirenda described Tigers’ relegation as sad.
He said: “They tried to keep it going, but you can only go that far. Over the past years, they were producing and selling good players, unfortunately they were not buying. Now push had come to a shove.
“They have been part of the Super League history since 1986, but now a vital organ is gone.”
Mzuzu City Hammers is the other team going down following their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Silver Strikers at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe.
Festus Duwe claimed a brace for Silver before Aubrey Simbi scored into his own net.
Mathematically, Hammers have a chance, but realistically, they will have to move mountains to survive.
They are third from the bottom with 28 points and will be hoping to beat FCB Nyasa Bullets with a goal deluge of not less than six and hope that both Goshen City Dedza Dynamos and Mafco FC, who are above them with 31 points apiece, should falter in their final matches.
Hammers have a goal aggregate of minus 19 while Mafco and Dynamos have minus six and minus nine respectively. A tall order.
On the other hand, following their victory, Silver are now tied on 63 points with second-placed FCB Nyasa Bullets, but the Bankers are third due to an inferior goal difference.
The fight for the runners-up slot will, therefore, go down to the final day when Bullets will face Hammers while Silver date Eagles.
In other matches, Creck Sporting Club beat Dynamos 1-0 at Dedza Stadium while Civil Service United beat Karonga United 2-1 at Karonga Stadium to boost their fourth-place finish
