The FDH Bank Premiership in Malawi will be taking a two-week break starting November 8, in preparation for the upcoming international football calendar. This break will allow teams to rest and strategize before the league resumes on November 21. The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) confirmed the break, which will enable the country's national team, the Flames, to participate in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Egypt.
According to Williams Banda, the general secretary of Sulom, the break is necessary to accommodate the international calendar. He stated that the league will resume during the weekend of November 21-22. This break comes three weeks after a previous four-week break for the flagship league after the first round. At that time, Banda mentioned that the first two weeks were meant for teams to rest, while the other two weeks were for the international calendar.
The highly anticipated Blantyre derby, featuring FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Wanderers, is scheduled for November 22. The break will provide an opportunity for the teams to prepare, particularly Bullets, who are currently leading the log table with 42 points from 19 games. Bullets' acting CEO, Albert Chigoga, believes the break will help the club's technical panel fine-tune their strategy ahead of the second round, especially with the derby approaching.
Chigoga emphasized that despite their current position at the top of the table, the team cannot afford to relax. He stated that the break will give the coach and his backroom staff a chance to strategize as the chase for the title intensifies. Meanwhile, Wanderers' director of football, David Kanyenda, noted that the international break provides a valuable opportunity for physical, tactical, and psychological work.
However, Kanyenda expressed concerns that the break might affect their preparations for the derby, as some of their players might be away with the Flames. He mentioned that this could make it challenging to prepare collectively, as players may return with knocks and fatigue. Despite this, Kanyenda assured that the team will make the most of the break and be ready for the derby.
The break also provides an opportunity for the bottom-placed teams, Creck Sporting Club and Mafco, to fine-tune their skills and avoid relegation. Creck Sporting coach Ernest 'Wire' Mtawali stated that the break will give them a chance to work on their shortfalls, particularly in finishing. Mafco coach Ted Kalinda mentioned that they will focus on improving their attack during the break.
The FDH Bank Premiership will resume with the Blantyre derby on November 22, which promises to be an exciting match. The league's top teams, Bullets and Wanderers, are closely matched, with Bullets leading by three points. The break has provided teams with a chance to regroup and strategize, and fans can expect an intense competition when the league resumes.
Key points
- The FDH Bank Premiership will take a two-week break from November 8 to 21.
- The break will allow teams to rest and strategize before the league resumes on November 21.
- The Blantyre derby, featuring FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Wanderers, is scheduled for November 22.
