By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) football club head coach Millias Jegwe has asked the Central Region Football Association (CRFA) to consider changing the format of the league arguing that the current is too long and tiresome.
Jegwe was speaking after his side completed the 2023 Chipiku Stores Premier Division League games.
“The league is too long and tiresome and it is too expensive for teams and sponsors to keep players for such a longer period. There should be a remedy to make it shorter and more competitive”, observes Jegwe.
Luanar finished in position 5 with 33 points from 22 games, they won 9, drew 6, and lost 7. The team scored 38 and conceded 20 with a goal difference of 18.
However, the record did not please the gaffer who helped Dedza Young Soccer earn promotion to the elite league way back in 2015 but has failed to replicate that with LUANAR in over four attempts.
“As a coach I am not satisfied to be honest, in fact, I always want to be number one not as it has been this season. It was not a true reflection of my team LUANAR, it has been full of ups and downs, look at how we have faired in the second round.
“We managed to defeat almost every team and that speaks volumes on how strong our side is in the league. But I should thank the boys for putting up a gallant fight because getting these results was not easy”,
The gaffer also said the team faced internal challenges hence the poor showing in the league this season.
” As you know our team is an educational institution so football is like an extracurricular activity hence lacking continuity and consistency on players as we keep changing every season. We need to work on this so that we can have more reliable outsider players to strengthen the team so that we are a formidable side and a force to reckon with in the next season. I see this as viable because we have a very understanding management “, said Jegwe.
He added that another challenge faced in the league was officiating, especially at the beginning of the season.
Jegwe thanked CRFA and the Central Region referees body for assigning competent personnel towards the end of the season though he said it was too late for them to pick up as the damage was already made.
He therefore asked the two bodies (CRFA and CRR) to assign competent personnel from the beginning of the season so that the league is fair and smooth hence producing a very good candidate for the super league.
