* Chintheche lie on 9th-place with 25 points while Ntaja have 26 — thus against Chilumba Barracks, Ntaja cannot afford to drop any point
* Runners-up Baka City are away at Balaka Stadium to face champions Red Lions as 3rd-placed Mitundu Baptist host 10th-placed Mchinji Villa
* Red Lions, Baka City and Mitundu Baptist have since been welcomed into the elite TNM Super League as promoted sides
By Duncan Mlanjira
The NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) goes to the wire on its final Match Week on Sunday for relegation-threatened Chintheche United as they host 4th-placed FOMO FC at Rumphi Stadium, which is a must-win for Chintheche to survive in the country’s 2nd tier football system.
But there is a catch in that Chintheche must hope that 8th-placed Ntaja United should drop all points when they face relegated Chilumba Barracks away at Karonga Stadium.
Advertisement
Chintheche lie on 9th-place with 25 points while Ntaja have 26; thus against Chilumba Barracks, Ntaja cannot afford to drop any point — even a draw in the event that Chintheche would beat FOMO FC.
Jenda, who have 5 points from one win and two draws, were confirmed as relegated after Match Week 21 alongside Chilumba and they go back to 3rd tier Northern Region Football League.
Meanwhile, runners-up Baka City are away at Balaka Stadium to face Red Lions, where the Zomba-based military side will be crowned champions. Red Lions, alongside Baka and 3rd-placed Mitundu Baptist, have since been welcomed into the elite TNM Super League as promoted sides.
Mitundu Baptist, who host 10th-placed Mchinji Villa at Malili Ground in Lilongwe, have 38 points, one behind Baka, who have 39 points and will be fighting for full points against the champions to end as runners-up.
Baka, who have 39 points, will be fighting for full points against the champions to end as runners-up since they are separated by a single point with Mitundu Baptist, who are hosting 10-placed Mchinji Villa at Malili Ground in Lilongwe
At 24 points, Mchinji Villa also have the chance to escape relegation if Chintheche United lose against FOMO FC. This also makes Ntaja United in precarious position since in the event that Mchinji Villa win and Chintheche lose, the Machinga-based side will be relegated if they fail to beat Chilumba Barracks.
As a matter of pride to claim superiority on the final log table, 6th-placed Ndirande Stars with 29 points need to win their encounter against 5th-place Namitete Zitha at Kamuzu Stadium since they are separated with 7th-placed Bangwe All Stars by a single point.
Win or lose, Namitete Zitha will maintain their 5th place on the log table, while a win by Bangwe All Stars against relegated Jenda United at Kasungu Stadium, will help them move to 6th place — that is if Ndirande Stars are beaten by by Namitete Zitha.
Advertisement