Fisd Wizards and Airborne Rangers have been relegated from the top-flight TNM Super League and will be heading back to the regional leagues.
The two teams’ fate was sealed at the weekend when Wizards lost to Be Forward Wanderers 3-1 while Rangers were beaten 2-1 by Azam Tigers.
Wizards still anchor the table with 21 points from 26 games and even if they win their last two games, they will finish with 27 points and can only go a place up.
On the other hand, Rangers are second from the bottom with 25 points and a single game to wind up the season and even if they win, they will not get out of the relegation zone.
Rangers coach Kondwani Gawani was at pains to come to terms with reality, saying: “It is a painful moment for us. We do not know where it all went wrong, but I guess it part of the game and we will have to start all over again.”
Wizards technical director and owner Peter Mponda could not hide his disappointment.
“It is very frustrating to play good football but end up in a situation like ours where we have lost our Super League status.
“Our adventure has come to an end, but it is not the end of it all. Football will still be played and we will still keep this team together. We will be back in the Super League,” said the former Flames skipper.
Meanwhile, in the Chipiku Central Region Football Association (CRFA) Premier League, Dwangwa United have booked their ticket into the Super League after emerging champions even with two games in hand.
Dwangwa achieved the feat despite losing 2-0 to Kasungu Medicals.
They have 79 points whereas second-placed Support Battalion—who also have two games to wind up the league—train by seven points.
This means that even if Dwangwa lose their two remaining matches and Support win both their games, Dwangwa will still win the league by a point.
In the Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Premier League, Max Bullets on Saturday beat Prison United 1-0 to seal the title and earned themselves promotion to the TNM Super League next season, with three games in hand.
Max Bullets have 88 points from 37 games played this far whereas Cobbe Barracks are second with 74 points from 36 games. As we went to press, both teams had games on Sunday.