Chilobwe United
* On a one-year performance-based contract as the club intensifies its push for promotion to the FDH Bank Premiership lying 8th on the 2nd-tier league’s log table
* Who are facing 3rd-placed Embangweni United on Monday at Mpira Stadium in Matchweek 8 with four games left to play of the Season 2 first round
By Tarcizio Mondwe, Malawi News Agency (MANA) & Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
Former Nyasa Big Bullets interim coach Gilbert Chirwa has joined NBS National Division League (NDL) side Chilobwe United on a one-year performance-based contract as the club intensifies its push for promotion to the FDH Bank Premiership.
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With four games left to play in the Season 2 first round, Chilobwe United — promoted from the 3rd-tier Southern Region Football League 2025 — are lying 8th with 8 points from seven matches of two wins, two draws and three losses under coach, former Malawi international Elvis Kafoteka.
They have a tricky assignment on Monday in which they are facing 3rd-placed Embangweni United at Mpira Stadium in Matchweek 8.
The club’s public relations officer Julio Chimbuzi told MANA on Tuesday that Chirwa has been recruited to replace the club’s former technical director, late Rodgers Yasin, whose vast experience played a key role in developing the team’s technical standards.
“We have appointed Gilbert Chirwa because of his experience,” Chimbuzi said. “We want to maintain the technical training that Chilobwe United players were receiving under our previous technical director.”
He added that Chirwa has been tasked, together with the club’s technical panel, to guide Chilobwe United to promotion next season.
“Our target is to take Chilobwe United to the Premiership next year as we continue building a strong foundation for the team,” he said — adding that the club remains ambitious despite its short history.
Coach Kafoteka
It was formed in 2024 before quickly emerging as champions in the lower divisions: “We do not underestimate ourselves — our team is ambitious.
“By this time next year, we want our supporters to be watching us in the elite league,” he said, while expressing confidence that Chirwa’s experience will help transform the club from its current eighth position into title contenders.
Chimbuzi also commended the Chilobwe community for its continued financial support, saying the club currently has no corporate sponsor and relies on contributions from community members to meet its operation costs.
Following the signing of his contract, Chirwa said the club’s style of play and the leadership’s vision influenced his decision to accept the role.
“I like the way the team is playing, and my previous connection with Chilobwe also made the decision easier,” he said.
Chirwa added that success would depend on teamwork among the technical panel, players and club leadership to take the team to a higher level.
He was delighted to return to a community he has long been associated with, saying nothing in Chilobwe was new to him and that he was ready to work with the players.
His target to help the coaching panel elevate the club from its precarious 8th place to the promotion stage will be quite challenging — with Embangweni standing in their way on Monday.
Embangweni are also new entrants in the 2nd-tier league that was established in 2025. They are just three points behind the log table leader, Songwe Border United and two behind runners-up, Exteme FC.
On the other hand, Chilobwe are eight points behind the leaders, seven behind Extreme and five behind Embangweni.
Chasing Chilobwe and the others in the middle pack in the relegation zone are Namitete Zitha (9th with 8 points); Mighty Tigers (10th/6pts); Changalume Barracks (11th/4pts); and Bangwe All Stars (12th/2pts).
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