Three teams to fight for 2nd and 3rd places of NBS Bank NDL once Red Lions clinch the title

* Red Lions officially sealed their return to the TNM Super League after defeating Bangwe All Stars 1-0 at Balaka Stadium last Sunday

* And now they just need three more points to be crowned champions of the inaugural league

By Duncan Mlanjira

Three teams, runners-up Baka City with 35 points; Mitundu Baptist (3rd/29pts) and Namitete Zitha (4th/29pts) will fight for 2nd and 3rd places once leaders Red Lions clinch the NBS Bank NDL title National Division League (NDL).

Red Lions officially sealed their return to the TNM Super League after defeating Bangwe All Stars 1-0 at Balaka Stadium last Sunday and now they just need three more points to be crowned champions of the inaugural league.

Chintheche United, who are in relegation zone, stand in the way of the leaders at 43 points to outrightly win the title this Sunday at Mzuzu Stadium while runners-up Baka City have 35 points and the maximum if they win all remaining three games is 44 points.

Red Lions will amass 46 if they beat Chintheche United — thus  Sunday’s encounter is very crucial for the leaders, who are returning to the TNM Super League they got demoted from some three seasons ago.

In the event Red Lions win on Sunday and Baka City beat another relegation side Mchinji Villa (10th/19pts) on Saturday at home Karonga Stadium, Baka will be looking over their shoulders since two teams are sharing 32 points, Mitundu Baptist on 3rd place and Namitete Zitha on 4th.

Thus Baka need to win the next three assignments or can afford to draw one to maintain their runners-up slot with Mitundu and Namitete fighting for the 3rd slot — starting on Sunday when the two meet at Mchinji Community Ground.

Ndirande Stars, who are on position 6 with 26 points, travel to Chitipa Stadium to meet 11th-placed Chilumba Barracks (20 points).

On 5th place with 27 points are FOMO FC, who date relegated Jenda United at Kasungu Stadium on Saturday while 7th-place Bangwe All Stars are up against 8th-placed Ntaja United at Mpira Stadium.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has clarified that there will be no playoffs in the qualification of the TNM Super League as the three top NBS Bank NDL teams will earn automatic promotion.

The bottom four will be relegated to their respective regional leagues and thus champions of the four regional leagues — Northern, Central, South and Eastern will  then join next NBS Bank NDL season.

The bottom three of the TNM Super League will be demoted to the NBS Bank NDL, which was mooted out as the country’s second tier football system to enhance competitiveness throughout the three football structures as the bottom.

With two matches left to wrap up their debut season in the TNM Super League, Songwe United are confirmed as relegated having earned 6 points in 28 games of one win, three draws, 24 losses — scoring just 9 goals while conceding 70.

Above them with are Might Tigers on 16th place with 26 points and Mzuzu City Hammers on 14th with 27 points — both left with three games to wrap up the season. 

With two games left to play, Dedza Dynamos are on 13th with 31 points, sharing with 12th-placed MAFCO in the race to avoid relegation.

Meanwhile, Mitundu Baptist’s marksman leads the race for the Golden Boot with 17 goals from 17 matches, four away from Mchinji Villas Davie Juwao on 13 goals in 14 games.

Tying at 6 goals apiece are FOMO FC’s Chitsanzo Saidi in 19 games and Rashid Chilomoni in 17 games — with four trying on 5 goals apiece; Amon Mwakitali (Baka City in 9 games), Seleman Mussah (Bangwe All Stars in 16 games), Matorino Clement (Chilumba Barracks in 10 games) and Madalitso Jeffrey (Ndirande Stars in 12 games).