Mitundu Baptist, who opened a 2-point lead last weekend in the NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) face huge test this Saturday when they meet former TNM Super League side, Baka City at Karonga Stadium away from base in Lilongwe.
Mitundu Baptist enhanced their chances towards qualifying for promotion into the elite TNM Super League by winning their three opening matches of the inaugural NBS Bank NDL after beating Namitete Zitha 2-1 last Sunday.
The defeat condemned Namitete Zitha to 5th position from 3rd place they were in the previous week from two wins — displaced by another former TNM Super League side, Red Lions, who beat Chintheche United 3-1 to earn 6 points.
Namitete Zitha will be hosted by Jenda United at Kasungu Stadium tomorrow while Red Lions will be hosted at Mpira Stadium on Sunday by 4th-placed Bangwe All Stars, who got relegated from the TNM Super League in the 2024 season.
Another TNM Super League 2024 participants, FOMO FC — who are 8th having moved from 11the — will host Ntaja United at Mulanje Park on Sunday.
This Friday afternoon, 10th-placed Chilumba Stars date Mchinji Villa at Rumphi Stadium while tomorrow, Saturday, 7th-placed Chintheche United will host Ndirande Stars (9th) at Rumphi Stadium.
Mitundu Baptist enhanced their chances towards qualifying for promotion into the elite TNM Super League by winning their three opening matches of the inaugural NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) and beating Namitete Zitha 2-1.
Mitundu took the lead from two wins sharing 6 points apiece with Bangwe All Stars and Namitete Zitha but separated by goal difference as of last week they had seven goals scored without conceding and now that have 9 points — two ahead of second-placed Ntaja Stars.
Ntaja Stars, who were 5th two weeks ago with 4 points, beat Bangwe All Stars 2-1 to earn 7 points and displacing the former TNM Super League, Bangwe from the second spot.
Baka City were thus pushed from 4th to 6th following the other results while FOMO FC moved from the relegation zone they were at 11th to 8 after two losses to 8th position having beaten Jenda United 4-0.
Jenda United are still 12th without a win so far while Mchinji Villa are 11th from 9th last week while Chilumba Barracks, who drew 1-1 away to Ndirande Stars maintain their 10th place.
Five players were identified as Player of the Match last weekend — Mitundu Baptist’s Raheem Mtondera, Red Lions’ Dan Nyambose, Chilumba Baracks’ Fostering Chisale, Nyaka United’s Frazier Mbewe and FOMO FC’s Mike Robert.
The daggers are now drawn with Mitundu Baptist taking that two-point lead in the race for qualification into the TNM Super League, a 12-team new system that has been introduced as Malawi’s second-tier league — replacing the old format used for champions of Premier Divisions of regional leagues of the Southern, Central and Northern region leagues.
With FAM’s football transformation agenda, the introduction of the NDL is believed to be the best tool for helping Malawi to attain dominance in Africa with a strong link of football pyramid, whereby the Super League is subordinated by a competitive league.
The inaugural National Division League (NDL) is being sponsored at K982 million for three seasons by NBS Bank — FAM’s strong partner of the football season opener, the Charity Shield, which kicked off on May 24, 2025 at Mchinji Community Centre with an opening match between Mchinji Villa United and Mitundu Baptist.
Each of the NDL clubs have been asked to ensure that at least 30% of their squads have players aged 20 and below as its aim is not only to enhance the quality of Malawi football but also ensuring that it nurtures up-and-coming talents.
Top-three teams will qualify for the TNM Super League 2026 while the bottom-four teams will be relegated to the regional leagues, to create space for champions of the South, Centre, North and the newly-establishment Eastern Region.
In the inaugural NDL edition, Bangwe All Stars, FOMO FC and Baka City, which were relegated from the Super League last season, joined teams that finished from second to fourth in the South, Centre and North regional leagues.
The South contributes Red Lions, Ntaja United and Ndirande Stars; the Centre ushered in Mitundu Baptist, Villa United and Namitete Zitha and the North is being represented by Chilumba Barracks, Chintheche United and Jenda United.
