* Beat Namitete Zitha 2-1 yesterday to condemn the side to 5th position from 3rd they were in last week from two wins
* They were isplaced by former TNM Super League side, Red Lions, who beat Chintheche United 3-1 to earn 6 points
By Duncan Mlanjira
Mitundu Baptist have enhanced their chances towards qualifying for promotion into the elite TNM Super League by winning their three opening matches of the inaugural NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) after beating Namitete Zitha 2-1 yesterday.
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The defeat has condemned Namitete Zitha to 5th position from 3rd they were in last week from two wins — displaced by former TNM Super League side, Red Lions, who beat Chintheche United 3-1 to earn 6 points.
Mitundu took the lead from two wins sharing 6 points apiece with Bangwe All Stars and Namitete Zitha but separated by goal difference as of last week they had seven goals scored without conceding and now that have 9 points — two ahead of second-placed Ntaja Stars.
Ntaja Stars, who were 5th last week with 4 points, beat Bangwe All Stars 2-1 to earn 7 points and displacing the former TNM Super League, Bangwe from the second spot.
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Baka City, who were relegated from the TNM Super League 2024 side, have been pushed from 4th to 6th following the other results.
Meanwhile, FOMO FC, who got relegated from the TNM Super League last season have moved from the relegation zone they were at 11th to 8 after two losses to 8th position having beaten Jenda United 4-0.
Jenda United are still 12th without a win so far while Mchinji Villa are 11th from 9th last week while Chilumba Barracks, who drew 1-1 away to Ndirande Stars maintain their 10th place.
Five players were identified as Player of the Match — Mitundu Baptist’s Raheem Mtondera, Red Lions’ Dan Nyambose, Chilumba Baracks’ Fostering Chisale, Nyaka United’s Frazier Mbewe and FOMO FC’s Mike Robert.
The daggers are now drawn with Mitundu Baptist taking that two-point lead in the race for qualification into the TNM Super League, a 12-team new system that 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.
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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.
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.
