Baka City need just a single victory when they face Ndirande Stars on Wednesday to secure their return to Malawi’s elite league, one year after relegation.
The Clever Boys currently sit on 36 points following last week’s frustrating 1-1 home draw against Mchinji Villa, a result that cost them the championship title to Red Lions and delayed their promotion from the NBS Bank National Division League.
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That slip also allowed Mitundu Baptist to close the gap to just one point, meaning Wednesday’s win would extend Baka’s advantage to four points and strengthen their grip on second place while they monitor any potential stumbles from their closest challengers.
More importantly, three points would open up a seven-point gap over fourth-placed Namitete Zitha with limited games remaining, mathematically confirming Baka City as the second team to earn promotion to the Super League.
The promotion-chasing side boasts an impressive record of 10 wins, 6 draws and 4 defeats from 20 matches, scoring 24 goals while conceding just 14—the kind of defensive solidity that suggests they’re ready for top-flight football.
However, their task won’t be straightforward. Ndirande Stars arrive in buoyant mood after a remarkable comeback last Sunday, scoring three goals in the final seven minutes to seal a 5-2 victory over Chilumba Barracks at Chitipa Stadium.
Stars currently have 29 points from 20 games, and while a win would draw them level with Namitete Zitha and move them within three points of the promotion zone, their chances of going up appear mathematically slim at this stage.
Training Ground Controversy
The buildup to Wednesday’s crucial encounter has been overshadowed by allegations surrounding training arrangements at Karonga Stadium.
On Tuesday, Ndirande Stars claimed on their Facebook page that suspected Baka City supporters arrived at the facility and ordered them to leave, forcing the visiting team to scramble for alternative training arrangements.
Baka City has strongly refuted these claims, releasing an official statement distancing the club from the incident.
“The club would like to clearly state that Baka City FC was not at Karonga Stadium at the time in question,” the statement read. “The stadium was officially occupied by a Football Association of Malawi (FAM) D Coaching Licence training programme. Furthermore, Baka City FC conducted its training session at its usual designated training ground and not at Karonga Stadium.”
According to reports from Karonga, Ndirande Stars had been training at the stadium for approximately one hour when they were informed their allocated time had expired.
Baka City condemned what they described as “unverified and misleading statements on social media” that unfairly damage the club’s reputation and brand, adding that such actions are “detrimental to the spirit of football and mutual respect among clubs.”
The controversy adds an extra layer of tension to what is already a high-stakes encounter, with Baka City hoping to put the off-field distractions behind them and focus on securing the result that would seal their return to Malawi’s top
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