Karonga United downplay defeat

Karonga United Coach, Dave Muyombe, has downplayed his side’s 0-1 defeat to Manyamula FC in a Simama Premier Division match played last Sunday.

It was Karonga’s second defeat in five games in the Northern Region Football Association league.

Karonga also lost 1-2 to Rumphi Medicals a week earlier.

The losses have left the 2016 TNM Super League participants lying on fourth place with nine points—six behind leaders Chilumba Barracks FC.

But Muyombe said the losses cannot affect his team’s pursuit of the Premier Division title.

“Although the penalty we conceded was a bit controversial, we have no one to blame but ourselves. The referee had a good game and we had the chances. But finishing was the problem,” he said.

Asked if teams are becoming hard to overcome, Muyombe said there was no difference between this year’s campaign and the one they participated in 2015.

“Sometimes losing games early in a season helps your team to grow.

Nonetheless, we need to find a formula for consistency. This can surely assist us to keep in touch with the teams that are above us.

“Our target is to win the [regional] championship and make a quick return to the Super League,” Muyombe added.

Karonga were runners-up in the 2015 season, but got a place in the Super League on behalf of the then champions Chilumba.

The Malawi Defence Force prevented Chilumba from participating in the Super League due to financial problems.