Nyambose admits Songwe survival hopes fading

Rookie side face uphill battle with just Two points from 19 games

TNM Super League newcomers Songwe Border United are staring at almost certain relegation after suffering 17 defeats in their opening 19 games of their debut season in the elite league.

The Northern Region side, who were promoted last season from the Simso-Mzuzu Northern Region Football League after topping the final eight teams, have endured a nightmare campaign. They are yet to register a single victory and have managed just two points from draws against fellow relegation-threatened sides Mzuzu City Hammers and Mighty Tigers.

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Songwe have conceded goals in all but one of their matches this season. Their only clean sheet came in a 0-0 draw against Mighty Tigers on August 9, 2024, at Karonga Stadium, a game in which they dominated possession.

Despite showing glimpses of improvement since the start of the second round, Songwe have failed to collect any points, losing all four matches in the second phase of the league.

Their latest setback came against fellow rookies Chitipa United, who had also struggled for wins in the second half of the season. Songwe gifted the Cowboys maximum points with a disappointing 4-1 defeat at Mpira Stadium.

In post-match interviews, head coach Christopher Nyambose appeared to lower his tone on survival prospects, despite having previously expressed optimism about staying up with squad reinforcements.

“Of course it is a marathon and we are still playing games, so it’s becoming harder and harder, but let’s see how it goes. In today’s game, we were totally poor, second to every ball, and made too many mistakes that allowed our opponents to beat us,” Nyambose said.

Songwe’s statistics paint a bleak picture. They hold the dubious distinction of having scored the fewest goals in the league with just seven strikes—the same number conceded by title challengers Mighty Wanderers.

At the other end, they have shipped 51 goals in 19 matches, an average of 2.68 goals per game, the worst defensive record in the league.

With just two points, Songwe sit rooted to the bottom of the table, 18 points adrift of the relegation zone’s upper boundary. Mathematically, they could reach 35 points if they win all 11 remaining matches, but such a turnaround would require nothing short of a miracle.

The club’s precarious position has reportedly prompted discussions about spiritual intervention, with talk of traditional sacrifices to change their fortunes. However, based on current form, survival appears increasingly unlikely for the Border side.

Songwe will need to quickly regroup and find their first win of the season if they are to have any realistic chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Northern Region League.