Super League’s Chitipa United Cites Fixture Congestion as a Challenge to Team’s Preparations
Macdonald Mtetemera, the head coach for the team, spoke ahead of a TNM Super League clash against Lilongwe-based giants Silver Strikers.
Chitipa, Malawi-Chitipa United, this year’s surprise team in the Super League, has expressed concerns over fixture congestion, stating it is affecting the team’s preparations, writes Victor Musongole.
Macdonald Mtetemera, the head coach for the team, spoke ahead of a TNM Super League clash against Lilongwe-based giants Silver Strikers.
He said the tight fixture is heavily impacting the team, as they have been on the road for close to two weeks.
“We are prepared. We did training in our last game, and we are hoping we will do better. But looking at how the fixture is, it’s very unprofessional. It’s not healthy for a team. We have been on the road since two weeks ago as we went to Blantyre, then we came to Lilongwe, then we stopped in Rumphi for a cup game, and now we are in Karonga. We cannot play five games in a space of 14 days,” lamented Mtetemera.
Peter Mgangira, vice coach for Silver Strikers, says his players are geared to get maximum points after dropping points against Karonga United.
“We have worked on our shortfalls we had in Karonga United’s game, so we hope we will secure maximum points against Chitipa on Wednesday,” said Mgangira.
Chitipa United left Chitipa to play against Nyasa Big Bullets on Saturday, October 22, before stopping in Lilongwe to play Civo on Wednesday, October 24, and before playing a cup game against the Red Devils last Sunday.
Mtetemera’s words echo similar complaints from Nyasa Big Bullets Coach Kalisto Pasuwa, who attributed their Airtel Top 8 home loss against Civil Service United to fatigue due to fixture congestion.