* Chintheche Stars beat Ndirande Stars 3-2 to move to 4th place tying on 7 points with 3rd-placed Ntaja United but separated by goal difference
* Ntaja United face TNM Super League 2024 participants FOMO FC (8th with 3 points) at Mulanje Park tomorrow
By Duncan Mlanjira
Baka City, who got relegated from the TNM Super League 2024, have now engaged extra gear to return to the elite league by winning their 4th match of the NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) — beating leaders Mitundu Baptist 1-0 this afternoon at Karonga Stadium.
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The win propels Baka City to second position from 6th with 8 points, one behind Mitundu Baptist displacing Ntaja United, who will be hosted by FOMO FC at Mulanje Park tomorrow afternoon.
Mitundu Baptist lead with 9 points after scoring 9 goals in first three wins and conceding two after today’s loss while Baka City have played out four games of two wins and two draws and have a goal difference of two having scored four and conceded two.
In the other game played this Saturday afternoon, hosts Chintheche Stars beat Blantyre-based Ndirande Stars 3-2 in a goals galore match at Rumphi Stadium — for the hosts to move from 7th position to 3rd and tying on 7 points with second-placed Ntaja United but separated by goal difference.
Ntaja, who will be hosted by FOMO FC at Mulanje Park tomorrow afternoon, won two match, drew one and scoring five goals while conceding one while Chintheche United won two match after drawing once and also losing once in which they have scored six goals and conceded four.
According to match updates by NBS Bank NDL Media from Karonga Stadium. it took 79 minutes for the hosts Baka City to break the visitors and leaders Mitundu Baptist scoring through Joseph Mwambungu from a beautiful set piece of a free kick to give the host the lead p at Karonga Stadium, which they went on to defend till five minutes of added time.
The hosts wasted an opening chance in the 4th as Mwiza Chiona’s shot hits the post before being cleared away to safety and in the 6th by Geoffrey Mwakyembe, who header went past while Mitundu replied with a freekick outside the box that Thokozani Harrison’s shot was cleared out for first corner kick they failed to utilise.
Another 44th minute big chance was missed by Enock Kaonga, who failed to put the ball into an open net shooting wide for a goalkick.
Mitundu tried to reenforce through early two substitution with Baka replying with a double substitution in the 55th that energised them to earn the lead and the final 1-0 result.
Player of the Match, Mwiza Chiona for Baka United
In post match interview, Mitundu coach Audrow Makonyola said he was happy that his players controlled the away pressure very well knowing the hosts would be backed by home support.
But he bemoaned the officiation, saying it was biased towards the hosts, adding that other teams have complained of the same.
“We played well and controlled the game right from the start,” he said. “The fans here can attest that we were on top of the game but the players were being demoralized with bad decisions [by the referees].“
The coach added that going forward he has all the confidence that his charges would do better in next assisgnments, especially at home.
Fans at Karonga Stadium
On his part, Baka’s coach Victor Mwakhwawa said it was so satisfying to have beaten the leaders and having taken note of their fast pace, he made substitutions to frustrate the visitors’ dominance.
At Rumphi Stadium, Ndirande Stars coach Robert Daudi disclosed that they are yet to find their rhythm having lost eight of their best players who were poached by TNM Super League sides.
He hastened to say they dominated very well in the first half where they scored their two goals to lead 2-0 at half time but they failed to maintain the momentum which the hosts took advantage of.
Fans at Rumphi Stadium
It was a goals galore match as the visitors, Ndirande Stars, jilted Chintheche United with an 18th minute goal through Imran Dickson after receiving a good pass from Harris Nyirenda.
A chance in the 25th from a good long range shot from Jimmy Kalanje for Chintheche FC hit the post showing their intent to fight back but Mada Jefry scored another goal for Ndirande Stars in the 29 assisted by Khalid Ali, who had just a defender to beat but set the ball for Jefry.
Ndirande Stars fought on but in the 52nd minute, Imran Dickson and Thoko Mpinde picked up a yellow card each for unsporting behaviors, a sure sign of frustration which Chintheche captalised by scoring 9 minutes later (61’) through Robin Chioko from long range.
Six minutes later (67’) they equalised through Jimmy Kalanje — another fantastic goal assisted by Njakwa Mkumbira before Kalanje scored a brace in the 70th to take the lead and again with an assist by Jakwa Mkumbira.
Player of the Match, brace scorer Jimmy Kalanje of Chintheche FC
On his part, Chintheche coach John Kapyepye confessed that it was a tough match because their opponents were first to the ball and were attacking in numbers and he made a tactical change through his substitutions deal with Ndirande’s fast paced midfielders.
Yesterday, Chilumba Barracks and Mchinji Villa maintained their NBS Bank National Division League 10th and 11th relegation zone position respectively after drawing 2-2 at Rumphi Stadium, host venue for the military side.
Meanwhile, action continues tomorrow with two matches when two former TNM Super League sides Bangwe All Stars and Red Lions clash at Mpira Stadium with another TNM Super League participants, FOMO FC, hosting Ntaja United at Mulanje Park on Sunday.
The 12-team new system has been introduced as Malawi’s second-tier league — replacing the old format used for champions of Premier Divisions of regional leagues of the Southern, Central and Northern region leagues.
With FAM’s football transformation agenda, the introduction of the NDL is believed to be the best tool for helping Malawi to attain dominance in Africa with a strong link of football pyramid, whereby the Super League is subordinated by a competitive league.
The inaugural National Division League (NDL) is being sponsored at K982 million for three seasons by NBS Bank — FAM’s strong partner of the football season opener, the Charity Shield, which kicked off on May 24, 2025 at Mchinji Community Centre with an opening match between Mchinji Villa United and Mitundu Baptist.
Each of the NDL clubs have been asked to ensure that at least 30% of their squads have players aged 20 and below as its aim is not only to enhance the quality of Malawi football but also ensuring that it nurtures up-and-coming talents.
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Top-three teams will qualify for the TNM Super League 2026 while the bottom-four teams will be relegated to the regional leagues, to create space for champions of the South, Centre, North and the newly-establishment Eastern Region.
In the inaugural NDL edition, Bangwe All Stars, FOMO FC and Baka City, which were relegated from the Super League last season, joined teams that finished from second to fourth in the South, Centre and North regional leagues.
The South contributes Red Lions, Ntaja United and Ndirande Stars; the Centre ushered in Mitundu Baptist, Villa United and Namitete Zitha and the North is being represented by Chilumba Barracks, Chintheche United and Jenda United.
