After being relegated from the TNM Super League last season, Dedza Young Soccer, Wizards FC and Airborne Rangers have been given a second chance to regain their topflight status when they face-off in play-offs next month.
Following the development, the TNM Super League will have 16 teams effective next season which rolls out early April.
Super League of Malawi’s (Sulom’s) meeting on Friday evening in Blantyre resolved to have the play-offs to fulfill the agreement the teams and the league’s organising body made during an Extraordinary General Meeting last November to have 16 teams in the League.
Sulom general secretary, Williams Banda, said the League’s rules and relegations state that three teams would be relegated every season unless if Sulom’s executive decides otherwise.
“We have used the option of unless otherwise. Article 16 of the rules and regulations gives us powers to meet and decide on such matters. There were suggestions that the team that finished on position 13 Dedza Young Soccer should be brought back into the League to have 16 teams. But as a matter of justice and fairness, we decided to have the playoffs involving all the relegated sides. The team that does well will return to the Super League,” he said.
The play-offs would be held at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe from March 11-13.
Wizards FC’s technical director, Peter Mponda was a relieved person yesterday, saying his charges would fight hard to regain topflight status. “This is our last chance. We will try our best to return to the TNM Super League,” he said.
Wizards and Dedza Young Soccer face a daunting task to assemble strong squads after selling the majority of their players to various teams.
However, Mponda said he has a good squad capable of returning to the Super League.
Wizards sold Ernest Tambe and Rafik Namwera to Be Forward Wanderers whereas Levison Maganizo, Mark Fodya, Thuso Paipi and Brighton Munthali have joined Silver Strikers.
On his part, Dedza Young Soccer general secretary, Harold Mmora, refused to comment further but said it would be complicated to play in the play-offs considering that they finished on 13th position with 29 points last season.
Dedza have already lost Wilson Magombo and Amadu Makawa to Silver and Nyasa Big Bullets, respectively, whereas some of Airborne Rangers players have joined Dwangwa United and Chilumba Barracks.
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