Mitra Icons catch up with Blantyre Utd in Malawi 2nd tier league
One of Malawi’s promising football club in the second tier league, Mitra Icons, is still on track in their campaign to qualify to the top flight TNM Super League by catching up with current leaders Blantyre United on points in the 22-team Premier Division sponsored by Masters Security Services.
The Ndirande-based side beat Poly FC 1-0 on Wednesday at BAT Ground to tie on 34 points with Blantyre United but the former Malawi TNM Super League side still lead on goal difference.
However, Mitra Icons have a game in hand—they have played 16 games while Blantyre have played 17.
Mitra Icons date White Eagles on Saturday at Police Training School while Blantyre United travel to Mulanje to meet Fomo at Chitakale.
Third-placed MDF Marine with 32 points from 16 games have two assignments this weekend — against Bvumbwe Research at Bvumbwe on Saturday and against Nyasa United at BAT Ground on Sunday.
Tying on 29 points but separated by goal difference are Nchalo United (4th) Cobbe Barracks (5th) and Chikwawa United (6th). All three are former TNM Super League sides.
Nchalo United have played 18 games, Cobbe Barracks 15 and Chikwawa United 16.
Chikwawa and Cobbe Barracks meet on Saturday at Chikwawa while Chikwawa will also host Fomo on Sunday.
Other Premier Division fixtures are Be Forward Reserve (position 11) v Michiru Madrid (12) at BAT on Friday while on Saturday are Polytechnic (17) v Nyambadwe Majuniors (22) at Poly and Changalume Barracks (16) v Be Forward Reserve at Zomba Community Centre.
On Sunday, Matamando (21) face Nyambadwe Majuniors at Pirimiti and Hardknockers (19) date Michiru Madrid at Police.
Mitra Icons were on the verge of being demoted last season from the Premier Division and even were just about to disband due to financial constraints but they were rescued by Malawi’s market research company, Market Insights Tracking (Mitra), which took over sponsorship.
The company’s founder Albert Chigoga has the desire to run the team, formerly known as Ndirande Icons, as a professional entity to fight all the way into the top flight TNM Super League.
Chigoga believes Icons are ambitious and resilient and sees nothing stopping the team from achieving the dream of qualifying into the Super League.
Chigoga, who is now the chairman of the club, said he would like to run Mitra Icons as a professional entity and is providing the team with equipment, game bonuses, transport, and everything required for a football team to flourish.
Mitra has also provided a practising medical practitioner as a team doctor and it will also pay the coaching staff and meet the needs of players when brought to the sponsor’s attention.
Coach Fletcher Chirwa has been running the club since it started in 2002 and former Flames striker Heston Munthali helps as a technical advisor.
The following is the top 10 on the log chart:
P GD Pts
- Blantyre Utd 17 18 34
- Mitra Icons 16 13 34
- MDF Marine 16 9 32
- Nchalo Utd 18 9 29
- Cobbe Barracks 15 7 29
- Chikwawa Utd 16 7 29
- BNC Produsak 18 9 27
- Zomba Utd 14 11 25
- Mangochi Police 14 5 25
- 10.Bvumbwe Rsc 15 3 23
