Zomba Immigration Football Club, champions of the inaugural Durata Division One League under Eastern Region Football Association (ERFA), thumped runners-up Kababa Academy 3-1 in the final match of the league at Zomba Stadium on Sunday.
Although the match had been a dead rubber – since Immigration had already been declared champions with 61 points and a win for Kababa, who have accumulated 51 points, could not have affected the league standing – both teams put up a spirited performance that mesmerised spectators who had thronged the stadium.
Kababa went for the jugular and drew first blood barely five minutes into the game when Fortune Thauka seized a rebound to score the opener.
Immigration rallied in the second half as Gift Pillow equalised 51 minutes in the half, with Hezron Ziba and Kumbukani Chikooko scoring in the 75th and 90th minutes respectively to send a statement to the rest of the Premier Division teams that they are no fluke as they have been promoted.
Despite the result, Kababa have also secured a promotion into the Premier Division League alongside Nsanama Young Soccer.
Mukhota FC, Ululu FC, and Milanzi Malawi Tunes have been relegated as all teams racked up 21 points from 24 games with Milanzi Tunes shipping 60 goals.
In his remarks, Regional Sales Manager for H. Adams Wholesalers, Oster Banda, said as sponsors, they are contented that their objective of developing grassroot football is being achieved.
“Our objective is to develop football from the grassroot levels. We are contented that we have achieved that, and the football that was displayed on the final day showed skill and talent and obviously improved our image as a major stakeholder of football. We are happy to see the graph rising,” said Banda.
In his remarks, ERFA’s General Secretary Francis Onions Phiri, acknowledged the discipline shown by all teams in the league.
The Durata Division One League is sponsored to the tune of K15.3 million, and as champions, Zomba Immigration received K3 million.
