Play offs Preparations Going on Very Well-Mponda

By: Andrew Cane Chilapondwa

Wizards owner and Technical Director Peter Mponda says preparations for this month’s Super League of Malawi (Sulom) play offs are going on very well.

The Chilomoni based side finished at the bottom of the log table with 21 points from 28 games but were given a relief by Sulom who announced that the 16^th team in the 2016 Super League season will be decided through the play offs which will include Dedza Young Soccer and Airborne Rangers.

Speaking in an interview with The Malawi Star, Mponda said preparations for the do or die encounters are going on very well.

“We are preparing well for the crucial matches against Airborne Rangers and Dedza  Young Soccer this month at Civo Stadium but only the lucky team will carry the day and remain in the league,” he said.

Wizards sold some of their players to some Super League teams but the former Flames, Big Bullets and Black Leopards captain revealed that they will not recall back the players saying the current squad is capable of producing wonders in Lilongwe.

“We allowed those players to leave because we knew that we had capable replacements so we did not stress because we have trust in these players. By then, they were not given enough chances to show us there skills but this is their time to shine,” he continued.

Asked on whether his team deserved to take part in the play offs or not, Mponda said: “Before last season’s kick off, Dedza, Airborne and we knew that three bottom teams will get the chop by the end of 28 games but there was no such thing as surviving just because you finished on 13^th position.  It was a good decision by Sulom to give every team a chance to take part in the play off Dedza is a good side but it’s not on to let them stay in the league without getting involved in the playoffs. They finished above us so it won’t be difficult for them to make it at Civo next week.

“During the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) between Sulom and Super League teams, we agreed to have 16 teams in the 2016 league season but we never agreed on the procedures on how to have the 16^th team. It won’t be proper to isolate us just because we finished on 15^thposition,” he concluded.

The play offs will be played from 11^th -13 March at Civo Stadium. The winner will cement a place in the top flight.