* At 31 points, they are five clear after runners-up Extreme FC drew 1-1 with Namitete Zitha on Sunday to amass 26 points
By Duncan Mlanjira
Songwe Border United are firmly at the top of the NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) five points clear after runners-up Extreme FC drew 1-1 with Namitete Zitha on Sunday at Owen Malijani Stadium.
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Songwe amassed 31 points on Saturday at Karonga Stadium after beating Ntaja United 3-0 through goals from Shabani Thomas, Dickson Mwangonde and Happy Ng’ona Mthuzi.
Thomas claimed his in the 3rd minute assisted by Dickson Mwangonde, who then doubled the lead in the 43rd with an assist from Evance Mwenitete before Mthuzi made it 3-0 in the 72nd assisted by Emmanuel Munthali.
At Owen Malijani Stadium, Extreme went into the match with 25 points with the aim to keep the gap against Songwe United at three points but it was Namitete who scored first in the 12th through Alex Mbewe’s simple finish after receiving a pass from Precious Mandiwa.
Namitete Zitha went on to dominate play, coming wave after wave to extend the lead, but finding Extreme defence on high alert in clearing the balls.
Extreme then equalised in the 52nd minute and the result stayed that way to share the spoils that saw Ntaja perch on 8th place, the cut off point of the relegation zone.
With nine matches left to play, the relegation zone is being occupied by Ndirande Stars on 9th with 15 points; on 10th by Mighty Tigers with 11 points; Bangwe All Stars on 11th with 6 points; and at the rock bottom by Changalume Barracks with 4 points.
Mighty Tigers, who joined the NBS Bank NDL after been relegated from the top flight league, nearly claimed full points in their 2-2 draw with Chilobwe Stars on Sunday at Mpira.
They first conceded in the 4th minute scored by Chilobwe’s Madalitso Hadji but they managed to equalise in the 26th through Muhammad Khursheed.
They then took the lead in the 85th through Matthews Sibale but they couldn’t hold on as Chilobwe equalised in the 90+2.
If they had won, they could have opened a 7-point gap ahead of Bangwe All Stars, which is now a 5-point gap.
Bangwe All Stars lost 0-1 in Wednesday fixture against Mzuzu City Hammers, which made the 3rd placed Hammers to amass 24 points, seven behind the leaders Songwe and two behind Extreme.
Behind the Hammers are Embangweni United with 23 points, which they amassed having beaten Changalume Barracks 2-1 on Saturday through a brace from Phillip Mkandawire in the 7th and 41st minutes.
Changalume fought back and managed to hit one back in the 74th through Ackin Mponda, their 12th goal in which they have conceded 29.
They have not won any match in their debut appearance but drawing four, losing nine.
Chilobwe United are on 5th place with 19 points, sharing with Namitete Zitha, who are on 6th, while FOMO are on 7th with 18 points.
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