Relegated TNM Super League sides, Masters Security, Mlatho Mponela and Dwangwa United have blamed lack of resources and poor scheduling of fixtures as major factors for their demotion.
This season has been the worst for Central Region Football Association (CRFA) as the three sides return to the lower league.
Mlatho Patron, Steve Chapola, blamed how football was run in the country saying it contributed to their exit.
“I feel the playing field was not being levelled as some teams were playing more games within a short period of time whereas well-funded teams hardly faced this hurdle. Teams without sufficient resources like us and Dwangwa were being given three games in a space of five days regularly as opposed to the others,” he said.
Chapola also blamed the referees of favouring some home teams.
“I also have a problem with some officiating crew as at times favoured home teams. Sadly top three teams in the league were spared from this,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Dwangwa Coach, Ladwell Mbetewa, echoed with Chapola’s sentiments.
“We have been relegated because of various reasons including poor officiation in the country. We played against Savenda Chitipa United on Saturday and the fourth official indicated seven minutes of added time which then turned to 20. Then the referee awarded the home side dubious penalties. We were also in financial problems and it was difficult to motivate the players,” he said.
On his part, Masters owner, Alfred Gangata, denied that his side was relegated because of financial woes opting to blame his players.
“My players failed me. They didn’t do a good job,” he said.
When quizzed about financial woes, Gangata was adamant saying that some teams in the league were also in similar situation but they escaped relegation.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) General Secretary, Williams Banda, in short response wished the relegated teams well.
“We wish them all the best until we meet again. Sixteen teams are treated equally no showels in the elite league,” he said.
National Referees Association, General Secretary, Chris Kalichero, said the relegated sides were not honest enough.
“A bad carpenter blames his tools. How come other teams have survived relegation under similar conditions? As for the added time, it is at the discretion of the referee to add time according to what is happening in the ground,” he said.
Meanwhile, Central Region Football Association Vice Chairman, Simon Lijenje, has described the loss of three teams from the top flight league as a disaster.
“This is pure disaster it’s unheard of. Next season we will have fewer representation of our teams in the top league. We know that resources haunted almost all of the relegated teams. All those teams lacked stable sponsorship. The reasons could be many but these ones are the strong ones,” he said.
Next season both Southern and Northern regions will have five teams each in the top flight league with the centre contributing six sides.
Peter Fote is a Sports Journalist with huge experience in radio and Television reporting, production and presentation. He once worked with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and is currently working for Times Media Group.
