Blue Eagles start life in lower league
Blue Eagles started their life in Malawi’s second tier football league Chipiku Central Region Football League’s Premier Division with a 4-0 triumph of Dzaleka Future at Dowa Community Centre Ground.
The match spiced up the 2024 season launch, graced by high-profile delegates, including Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya, Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu North Constituency Mike Bango and Police Commissioner responsible for Research and Planning Barbra Tsiga at Dowa Community Ground.
Andrew Juvinala scored the first goal of the league’s season in the 21st minute from the spot kick after Tonic Viyuyi was fouled in the box.
Seven minutes later, Eagles doubled the lead when Viyuyi headed home a corner from Blessings Malemia.
Viyuyu registered the season’s first brace as the teams headed for recess.
Then Schumacher Kuwali drove the last nail on Dzaleka’s coffin in the 74th minute.
The hosts’ push to come back into the match was too little and late as Blue Eagles collected full points with a clean sheet.
In post-match interviews, Blue Eagles coach Eliah Kananji applauded his charges, saying winning the opener would boost their bid for an immediate return to the top-flight.
“The boys adapted fast to the bumpy surface of pitch. Our approach will be taking game by game seriously, not to drop any point,” he said.
During the launch, Haiya appealed to CRFA to run the league professionally and to avoid teams forfeiting games.
“We are very excited that today the sponsors Chipiku Stores have finally kicked off the league. This will help the league to finish on time, in line with our footballing calendar. Times are gone that leagues should be finishing outside the football calendar.”
“I am appealing to the CRFA to run the league in a professional way and avoid teams forfeiting games, as this brings a lot of speculation which damages the image of the sport and the sponsors,” he said.
Central Region Football Association (CRFA) general secretary Antonio Manda emphasized on discipline, and assured FAM of adhering to their calendar.
Chipiku Stores spokesperson Brown Mkangama said he was excited that they have finally launched the season which will give their customers entertainment.
“We want the teams to play fair games. They should avoid other issues that will put the game down, and the name of the sponsorship in disarray,” he said.
Twenty-four teams were drawn into three groups of eight teams each. Top four teams will qualify for the finals round from each group.
According to CRFA AGM’s resolutions, a team that will fail to fulfil the fixture will be fined K500 000, to be played before their next game.
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