The Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) has urged independent teams in the ThumbsUp Premier Division League to raise their performance as the second round of the league returns after the general elections.
Association chairperson Dyles Kachala voiced the concern after observing that reserve sides of TNM Super League teams occupy the top three spots. These reserve sides, however, are not eligible for promotion to the National Division League.
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“It is my plea to teams like Chilobwe United who are in fourth position to push harder and get to the top. We want the team to be promoted to be strong and competitive because if otherwise, people will say we promoted a weak team,” Kachala said.
Representatives from both the ThumbsUp Premier Division and the Sultan Concrete Blocks Division One League commended SRFA for notable improvements in running the leagues. They cited timely release of fixtures, smooth communication and transparency in operations.
Kachala expressed satisfaction with the feedback saying, “I am happy to learn that teams are pleased with how we are running the leagues. It is something I cannot do alone, so I must thank all executive members for the good job in their respective departments,” he said.
Officials from several teams, including Zingwangwa United, Hardnockers, Liberty and PS Sporting, openly praised the association.
However, concerns over officiation dominated the floor. Dida Zingwangwa, head coach of Zingwangwa United, and Chilobwe United’s general secretary, Benham Chinombo, joined other team officials in pointing out what they called poor officiating.
They cited referees in Chikwawa and Nsanje as the worst culprits, accusing them of openly telling visiting teams that they cannot win in the Lower Shire because local referees would ensure Lower Shire teams avoid relegation.
In response, Kachala promised reforms. “We will start alternating referees. They will not officiate games in their own districts and we believe that will help to address the challenges of officiation,” he said.
Southern Region Referees Association chairperson Emmanuel Mlauzi backed the proposal, saying his body is ready to provide referees under the new system.
“We have done this before and we can do it again. Our referees will be available to officiate games away from their home districts. As stakeholders, we also want to improve the game by providing standard officiation,” assured Mlauzi.
Mlauzi, however, stressed that some complaints arise out of perception, noting that some teams lack an understanding of the demands of officiating.
Chinombo described the interface as invaluable, saying it gave teams the opportunity to air their concerns and engage in meaningful dialogue on football administration.
The meeting took place on Sunday, September 14 at Mpira Village in Chiwembe, Blantyre, where SRFA reviewed the first round of the ThumbsUp Premier Division League and the Sultan Concrete Blocks Division One League, which had been temporarily suspended to allow teams to meet their registration fees.
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