Domestic football clubs not ranked in the world
It is hard to believe, harsh to accept and easy to dismiss, but none of Malawi’s football clubs appear on the list of the world’s ranked 1282 teams, the latest rankings indicate.
Authoritative Football Database website, which Super League of Malawi General Secretary, Williams Banda, has questioned, released the latest rankings on Sunday.
The rankings on www.footballdatabase.com are calculated using a special rating system which draws data from previous achievements and the present form of all clubs in the world. Scores, standings and statistics about clubs as well as international and domestic leagues are considered.
“We do not know this website. We need to find out if its rankings are based on subscriptions, otherwise you would have expected them to give our clubs even the lowest ranking. Even on the world index on poverty, you still have the poorest nations ranked,” Banda insisted.
Interestingly, the latest rankings indicate that Zimbabwe’s Dynamos are positioned 12th in Africa, number one in Southern Africa and 253 in the world.
South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs are 13th in Africa and reigning Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League kings, Mamelodi Sundowns, are positioned 14th.
Placed on position 100 in the world, Egyptian giants Al Ahly are Africa’s leading team followed by Esperance of Tunisia (108) third-placed TP Mazembe (111), then, fourth, another Congolese side Vita Club (117).
On position 121 in the world, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia are placed fifth in Africa.
Al Merrikh, Al Hilal (both Sudan), Zamalek (Egypt), CS Sfaxien (Tunisia and Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca make the continent’s top-10.
Caf spokesperson Junior Bunyan had not responded to Malawi News’ e-mailed question on whether they recognise Football Database.
Based on current form, Liverpool are rated as the English Premier Soccer League’s top team while placed 16th on the world chart.
Spanish La Liga lords and 11-time record Uefa Champions League winners, Real Madrid, deservedly top the world table followed by Barcelona (also from Spain) then third-placed Bayern Munich of Germany.
St Ann Rangers of Trinidad and Tobago are the world’s lowest ranked club on position 2282.
Probably due to a lack of participation in continental competitions, the case of Malawian teams seem isolated as across the Zambian borders, Zesco United are recognised as that neighbouring country’s best team while positioned 582 in the world.
Ranked 772 in the world, Inter Club of Angola are that country’s best club likewise Sofapaka in Kenya (1265 in the world).
On position 1681, Saint George are considered Ethiopia’s best side and Liga Desportivo de Maputo are Mozambique’s top side rated 1765 with Gaborone United leading Botswana sides while ranked 1228 in the world. Tanzania’s best club are Yanga (1776 in the world).
No all agree with the rankings. South Africa football fan, Sibusiso Mthenjana, giving feedback on Football Database website, questioned the rankings.
“How do these ratings work? I cannot believe that certain teams that have accomplished more than others are below under achievers i.e.
Sundowns of South Africa and CS Sfaxien of Tunisia,” he observed.
The Herald newspaper of Zimbabwe reported on Thursday that Football Database was established in 1997 and has been providing data for clubs around the world, based on the Elo rating system.
Developed by Arpad Elo, this system involves a lot of data and calculations, is also used by Fide, the international chess federation, to rate chess players.
In 1997, Bob Runyan adapted the Elo rating system to international football and posted the results on the Internet, added The Herald.
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