* The first past elite league contestants was when Mzuzu City Hammers thrashed Mighty Tigers 4-0 two weeks ago
* The Matchweek 8 is tricky assignment for relegation-placed Mighty Tigers as they are facing Songwe Border, who lead the log table
By Duncan Mlanjira
After a one week break, the NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) resumes this weekend with the headline fixture being that between two immediate past elite league contestants, Mighty Tigers and Songwe Border United.
The first past elite league contestants in this 2nd-tier national league was two weeks ago when Mzuzu City Hammers thrashed Mighty Tigers 4-0 and this Matchweek 8 assignment on Saturday, is tricky for relegation-placed Mighty Tigers as they are facing Songwe Border, who lead the log table.
To be played at Mpira Stadium, this is a match both Mighty Tigers and Songwe Border United badly need to win as the Tigers lie on the unenviable relegation position on 10th.
While Songwe Border United, who are leading the log table with 16 points, would be fighting not to drop any point as they are separated by a single point with runners-up, Extreme FC.
Behind Extreme on 3rd place with 13 points are Embangweni United — making the race at the top very close that each side wouldn’t afford to drop any point with four games each remaining to close the first round.
So guns will be blazing in Matchweek 8 and Mighty Tigers, who have found the 2nd tier unexpectedly quite combative, are 10th with just 6 points from one win, three draws and three losses.
They are 2 points behind 9th-placed Namitete Zitha and 8th-placed Chilobwe United, who share 8 points apiece.
These two will be sharply looking over their shoulders by making sure they do not drop points as Namitete will be at home, Ntaja United at Owen Malijani Stadium in Mchinji on Sunday hosting Ntaja United, who are one point ahead placed on 7th place.
On the other hand, Chilobwe United are meeting 3rd-placed Embangweni United at Mpira Stadium on Monday, making this matchweek quite a contest of high intensity — with everything to play for.
Chilobwe United
So Songwe Border will be travelling to Blantyre from Karonga knowing full well Mighty Tigers have gone back to the drawing board planning a resurgence to extricate themselves from the relegation zone.
Songwe will be fighting to get a grip of their leadership against the runners-up Extreme FC and 3rd-placed Embangweni while the two top position aspirants will hope Tigers do resurrect on Saturday to win for their advantage.
Fourth-placed Ndirande Stars are also hovering close by along with 5th-placed FOMO FC, who share 11 points. Ndirande are hosting Extreme FC at Zomba Stadium on Saturday while FOMO are also at home, Mulanje Park, on Sunday to face 6th-placed Mzuzu City Hammers with 10 points.
Matchweek 8 opens on Friday when rock bottom of the table Bangwe All Stars with 2 points, will be at home Mpira Stadium to host Season 2 new entrants, Changalume Barracks, who lie on 11th place with 4 points.
This is also another interesting tie in that if Bangwe win, they will displace the military side and a draw will make Changalume maintain their position but a win will certainly rock up the bottom four.
At the same time, Chilobwe United might be coming with new tactics as they have roped in former-Nyasa-Big-Bullets-coach-Gilbert-Chirwa-as-technical-director on a one-year performance-based contract as the club intensifies its push for promotion to the FDH Bank Premiership.
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