Red Lions set for NDL Championship as promotion battle reaches climax

Red Lions could be crowned as the champions of the NBS Bank National Division League on Saturday, but they have to beat relegation-threatened Chintheche United in a very tight match at the Mzuzu Stadium.

The Reds are in need of just a win, or for second-placed Baka City to drop points, so that they can be confirmed as Champions of the League after they confirmed their promotion into the top flight League last weekend.

MORE NEWS FROM WAMPIRA

Meanwhile, it will not be easy for the leaders as they face a fully charged Chintheche United side which wants to avoid relegation as they sit just a point behind the safe place, and three points will take them near the fifth position in the League.

Head coach for Lions, Malumbo Mkandawire, said his team has prepared well to be crowned the champions.

“The preparations are the same as we do in other matches. We are ready to lift the championship and make history as the inaugural winners of the League,” said Mkandawire.

Meanwhile, head coach for Chintheche United, Kaloti Kayuni, described the importance of the game to the team if they get maximum points.

“It is a must-win for us and we have to fight because we need to save ourselves from relegation. It is a tight match but the boys have agreed to do everything so that we should win the game,” said Kayuni.

A win for Red Lions will be their 14th in the League as they have 43 points from 13 wins, four draws and three defeats, while Chintheche could tie points with 7th-placed Bangwe All Stars if they win the game as they have 22 points from 19 games in 10th place.

Baka return home to grip promotion chances

Baka City will be looking forward to bouncing back from their 1-0 defeat to Mitundu Baptist last weekend as they return home to face Mchinji Villa at the Karonga Stadium on Saturday.

The Clever Boys put themselves under pressure after allowing Baptist and Namitete Zitha to move three points behind them and allowing Red Lions to move closer to the Championship, but they have to beat Villa so that they edge closer to promotion into the elite League.

However, they will also have to do it against another relegation-threatened side which will be fighting for a win that will take them out of relegation.

Head coach for Baka City, Victor Mwakhwawa, said his team has a good record at home and they will use the advantage of that.

“Our loss last week cost us a lot, so if we win this one, we will set ourselves clear that we are returning to the Super League and trust me, we will win this game,” he said.

On his part, head coach for Mchinji Villa, Abel Mkandawire, anticipates a tough match but said it is their life-saving match in the League.

“We are facing a good side with a good home record, but with our state, we don’t need to mind that we are away. We need to attack aggressively so that we gain three points from this match,” said Mkandawire.

Baka could move up to 38 points if they win the game, while Villa could move out of the relegation zone up to 25 points as they now have 22 points from 19 games in position 9.

Promotion bid reaches climax: Namitete Zitha vs Mitundu Baptist

It is tit-for-tat in the fight for a promotion place in the League as teams with equal power, quality and capabilities face off in a fight for third place in the League as Namitete Zitha host Mitundu Baptist on Sunday.

Both teams are locked at 32 points from 19 games in the League with just goal difference putting Mitundu ahead, and their clash at the Mchinji Community Ground may act as a playoff final.

Meanwhile, Mitundu goes into the match with a concern about their record away from home as they have only one win, which they got on the opening day of the League, plus two draws, while Zitha will use a home ground advantage in the match.

Head coach for Zitha, Richard Fosiko, said it will be a tough match looking at the quality from both teams, but they are determined to win the game.

“It is the game that carries our hopes for promotion, so we need to be focused and determined to avoid errors. I believe that we will get a good result with how our preparations were done,” he said.

His opposite number, Audlow Makonyola, described the match as vital and that they will do what it takes to win the match.

“Our aim is to earn promotion and that will happen. All we need is a positive result from this game. We are prepared and we will surely do better,” said Makonyola.

A win for each side in the game will open a three-point gap over the other, handing itself a big chance to secure promotion into the elite league.

Escape from looming danger

In another tight match, Bangwe All Stars and Ntaja United face off in a must-win game for both teams after both teams feel pressure from teams that are in the relegation zone at the Mpira Stadium on Saturday.

Ntaja United are 8th with 23 points, a point above Mchinji Villa and Chintheche United, meaning a win could take them up to a safer spot and now closer to the fifth spot in the League.

For Bangwe All Stars, wins for Chintheche and Villa could tie points with them to intensify the relegation zone, so a win could take them up to 28 points which could be much safer.

In Kasungu, FOMO FC could look to strengthen their fifth position in the league when they face relegated Jenda United at the Kasungu Stadium on Saturday.

The Mulanje-based side have 27 points, meaning a win would take them out of threats of relegation this season as 30 points would be enough for survival in the League.

Finally in Chitipa, Ndirande Stars will also be hoping to escape from the incoming relegation threats, but they have to beat Chilumba Barracks, which is also fighting for their survival on Sunday at the Chitipa Stadium.

Ndirande Stars were stunned last week when they lost to Chintheche United at home and will look to bounce back as a win could take them up to 29 points, a better place to escape the relegation survival battle.

Meanwhile, Chilumba Barracks has 20 points with three games to go, meaning they can survive if they win all their remaining matches and other results favour them. A win would place them on 23 points.

Speaking on the progress of the league, sports analyst Justin Mitambo said the NDL has proven to be a success looking at how competitive it is.

“It clearly shows that we will be having well-baked teams for the Super League because the points were not taken on a silver platter. A team in fifth position could be relegated as well, which shows that we will have proper teams for elite football,” he said.

He also said that the League has the benefit of helping the teams to learn about travelling, managing finances for elite football and also adding depth fit for the standards of the League so that they avoid relegation in their first year of promotion.

Two teams are set to join Red Lions as automatic promoted teams into the Super League, while three teams will join Jenda United for relegation to regional leagues after finishing bottom of the table.

Three teams that will be relegated from the Super League will replace those that will be promoted, one of which is Songwe Border United, while four champions from regional leagues will cover the void left by the four relegated teams.