SRFA expects flawless season
Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) has said it expects a flawless 2023 Thumbs Up season full of exciting football.
The association’s chairperson Raphael Humba said they are working with all stakeholders to ensure an incident-free season.
“We learnt lessons from some few incidents that delayed the conclusion of our 2022 season. We had our calendar of events for the season but it spilled over into 2023 because of some cases that went as far as our mother body Fam [Football Association of Malawi].
“It was unfortunate that we had such incidents. So, to avoid travelling on the same path, we are engaging all relevant stakeholders. We are ticking all the boxes so that we get everything right,” Humba said.
He said the season will roll out with a launching ceremony at Mwanza Community Centre Ground on April 22.
“We will get started with the Mwanza derby between Mwanza United and Mwanza Stars. All our stakeholders are anxiously waiting for things to get started. We have more money this year because Rab Processors increased sponsorship. Fam will also be bankrolling us. So, there is a lot at stake,” Humba said.
SRFA will have 22 teams each in the Thumbs Up Premier Division and Division One.
The teams will play in groups A and B in their quest to earn TNM Super League promotion.
Reigning champions FCB Nyasa Bullets Reserve are in Group B of the campaign following a draw conducted at Football Association of Malawi’s Mpira Village in Blantyre on Wednesday.
At stake will be a place among the top four, who will battle for final slots in the knockout stages.
Winners of knockout stage matches will advance to the group final. Winners of the two groups will then meet in the grand final to determine who claims the bragging rights and proceeds to the Super League.
Results of the draw were as follows:
Group A:Balaka FC, Mwanza Stars, Bangwe All Stars Reserves, Mponda’s United, Ntaja Rangers, Immigration, White Eagles, Prison United, Zingwangwa United, Ndirande Stars and Mwanza United
Group B:Ntaja United, Tigers Reserves, Zomba Airbase, MDF Marine, Ntopwa FC, Fomo FC, Changalume Barracks, Mangochi United, Nyasa Big Bullets Reserves, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Reserves and The Boyz.
