Blue Eagles fear match fixing

TNM Super League leaders Blue Eagles have made sensational claims that first-round fixtures have potential to create room for match fixing.

This comes as some teams seem to have played more away matches in the first-round, which means they will have more home matches in the second round.

According to the fixtures, which Super League of Malawi (Sulom) released at the start of the season, defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets will play 10 away matches and five home matches.

Bullets will play their third straight away fixture when they face TN Stars at Kasungu Stadium tomorrow, having played Civil Service United and Red Lions.

In addition, Bullets have also played away games against Karonga, Moyale Barracks, Dedza Dynamos, Mighty Wanderers and Blue Eagles.

At this stage, Kamuzu Barracks have played six away matches against Karonga, Dedza, Wanderers, Stars, Civil and Silver Strikers.

Eagles Chairperson Alexander Ngwala said the fixture was drawn to favour a particular team.

“We have noted that a certain team has 10 home matches in the second round. This is good as stopping the league and hold function to issue them a 2022 league title,” Ngwala said.

“We pray that professionalism reigns as we transact top level Super League activities in order to make it competitive and to ensure that sponsors and other stakeholders are pleased with processes to win the league.”

Eagles have played five away matches against Lions, Mafco, Moyale, Dedza and Sable Farming. But the leaders have played six home matches.

For Silver, who are on the road this weekend against Sable, they have played three away fixtures and six home matches.

On the part of Wanderers, they have played four away and four home matches.

Sports analyst Parly Chinyama admitted that the fixtures were crafted to favour one team.

“It seems the fixtures were done to give some teams an advantage over other teams in the second-round. This has been the trend for more years and this has an impact in the title race,” Chinyama said.

Some teams like Ekwendeni Hammers have played more home games and will play more away fixtures in the second-round. They have played six home and five away matches.

However, Sulom General Secretary Williams Banda in an interview this week said clubs were engaged before the final fixtures were released.

“All the teams will play 15 games in the first-round. Some have eight matches home and seven away, others seven home and eight away. Teams that play two away will seem to have played more games. More importantly, all teams were given a chance to analyse the fixtures and they approved,”’ Banda said.

On his part, Bullets Chief Administration Officer, Albert Chigoga also admitted that the club also had reservations with the fixture.

“At first, we were worried but we decided to play the matches as planned. We did not want to bring unnecessary confusion,” Chigoga said.

Eagles lead the log table with 27 points from 11 matches, just one point above second-placed who have played 10 matches.