Wizards FC can finally breathe a sigh of relief after Super League of Malawi (Sulom) confirmed the Peter Mponda team’s return to the top-flight league.
Wizards have been handed a lifeline after they were relegated last season alongside Dedza Young Soccer and Airborne Rangers.
Sulom Vice-President, Daud Suleman, speaking after Nyasa Big Bullets drew one-all with Moyale Barracks at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday, said Wizards were eligible to compete in the top league.
“I think the 15th team has been identified. I think Wizards will come back into the league. Dedza withdrew. Airborne and Wizards already played their game and the result still stands. As we speak, Wizards are coming back into the league,” he said.
Sulom decided to identify the 16th team by holding play-offs involving the three relegated sides.
However, Dedza obtained an injunction restraining Sulom from proceeding with the play-offs.
After a protracted wrangle, Dedza withdrew the injunction after its case was thrown out by Sulom’s Appeals Committee.
Dedza have since ruled out any involvement in the play-offs, whereas Rangers’ participation is doubtful.
Commenting on Simama Northern Region Football Association champions, Chilumba, Suleman said the team would not feature in the top-flight league this season despite recent discussions between the concerned parties.
“I think Chilumba have confirmed that they will not participate in the league. So managers and administrators of the league have to go back and see how best to identify the last teams,” he said.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that Malawi Defence Force were re-considering their decision that Chilumba should pull out of the league.
The Northern Region’s second option for promotion is Karonga United, but the club’s owner, Willy Yabwanya Phiri is entangled in an injunction’s case that could compromise his football involvement.
Yabwanya, Wilkins Mijiga and Tiya Somba Banda are accused to taking football matters to an ordinary court of law when trying to have last year’s Fam elections postponed, contrary to Fifa’s regulations.
Somba Banda has always distanced himself from the injunction.
Meanwhile, Wizards Technical Director, Mponda, said they were yet to get official confirmation.
“However, we will try our best to meet Club Licensing [System] requirements since all the teams in the Super League have embraced the set-up. Of course, we will plead with the authorities to give us a certain period to fulfill such requirements. We were planning for life in the lower league and not Super League,” he said.
Mponda said they were yet to secure sponsorship, but he was optimistic that well-wishers would support the team.
“The Super League is a big platform for organisations to market their brands. As Wizards, we have the capacity to promote services or products of organisations,” he said.
Fam Transfer Marching System Manager, Casper Jangale, hinted that Wizards would be given up to the end of the first round to fulfill the requirements
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