Maresca: FA Cup exit a big SHAME

Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has called their FA Cup exit on Saturday as a big shame after the team lost 2-1 to Brighton and Hove Albion in a late kick off.

The Blues went ahead as early as fifth minute when the hosts' goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen, failed to handle a Cole Palmer's ball to guide the ball into his own net but Georginio Rutter levelled 8 minutes later before Kaoru Mitoma netted a second half winner.

Speaking after the defeat, Maresca, said with no doubt, the win is shameful and leaves Chelsea with a tough work to fight in the Premier League and the UEFA Conference League.

“Being out of the FA Cup, it’s a BIG SHAME for all of us at Chelsea. No doubts."

“If there is something positive, we can be focused on the Premier League and the Conference League. Hopefully we can continue our journey there.” He said.

Waka dominates FDH Bank awards nominations

Blue Eagles goalkeeper, Joshua Waka, could be a big winner in the FDH Bank Cup awards of the 2024 edition after being nominated in all categories lined up for the prize presentation.

Waka has been nominated for the player of the season award alongside his teammate, Paul Master, and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets' forward, Babatunde Adepoju.

He is also on the best goalkeeper award alongside Richard Chimbamba of FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Olyce Nkhwazi of Moyale Barracks and also comes as a discovery of the tournament with teammate, Andrew Juvinala and Rafick Kabwazi of Lube Masters.

Waka was instrumental in Blue Eagles' Cup win after saving two penalties against favourites, Silver Strikers, before coming of the bench in the final to save two penalties in 4-2 win over FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.

Chinjoka: We will transform Football in Central Region

The newly elected chairperson of the Central Region Football Association, Goodall Chinjoka, says the central region has been behind in terms of football in the past years but has made an assurance of a total transformation.

He said this on Saturday after defeating the immediate past chair, Austin Ajawa, 23-12 during elections held on Saturday and said people really know that he is the one to change things.

He said the Central region has no FAM office and also the technical center just as the north and South but has promised to change things in his administration.

"Let me assure you that with the support i am getting from our President FH [Fleetwood Haiya], we will transform everything. Ndikukuuzani pa ground payaka moto." Said Chinjoka.

He will be deputised by Abel Chiumia, Antonio Manda and Wales Kazonde will be his General Secretary and vice respectively, Hastings Chilunga is the treasurer with Bwanali Missie as a vice

Kaliati nominated for another individual award

Mighty Wanderers midfielder, Isaac Kaliati, has a chance get 9 individual awards only for the 2024 season after earning two nominations for two different awards in the past two days.

Chair was nominated for the player of the year award for the FAM awards on Friday before being nominated for the player of the tournament award in the Castel Challenge Cup.

He will have to compete with his fellow teammates, Clement Nyondo and also Chancy Mtete who was at Mzuzu City Hammers last season.

In the same tournament, Mtete will fight with Precious Masamba of Panthers and William Thole of Wanderers for the best goalie while Masamba has been nominated for the discovery of the season alongside teammate, Geoffrey Sumani and MMF Marine forward, Isaac Kondowe.

Following an impressive performance in 2024, Kaliati has already won 7 individual awards and that can be extended as he is a favourite to win TNM Super League's best midfielder and best player.

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La liga title race gets hot

The Spanish La liga title race is now getting hotter and hotter but it will be more than hot if Barcelona manages to beat Sevilla later on Sunday night.

The League leader's Real Madrid, missed a chance to open a four point gap ahead of Atletico Madrid following a 1-1 draw between the sides in Madrid derby.

Atleti had an opener on 35th minute thanks to a Julian Alvarez's panenka penalty kick but Kylian Mbappe's 23rd goal of the season on 50th minute levelled the scores.

Meanwhile, Barcelona could move near the top two if they win today as they will have 48 points, two behind the Los Blancos and one behind Atleti.

FAM promises to support CRFA

Football Association of Malawi says it will do more to support the Central Region Football Association just as they do with other regional Associations in order for them to have a smooth running of their affairs.

The Association's executive committee member, Felisters Dossi, who also acted as a returning officer for the election at the Association on Saturday, congratulated the newly elected president, Goodall Chinjoka, and pledged more assistance on him.

He said the Executive committee will meet to discuss about the Association's office.

"We gave them already a room at the Bingu National Stadium of which may be they did not use it but now if the officer is ready for it, he can use it so i will have to report to the Exco on the issue to see how best we can." Said Dossi.

The CRFA will now be in the hands of a new leader after Chinjoka defeated the immediate past Chairperson, Austin Ajawa, who succumbed to a 23-12 defeat on Saturday.

NKHANI

Timu ya FCB Nyasa Big Bullets yalengeza kuti katswiri wawo wapakati, Frank Willard wavulala.

Timuyi yalengeza za nkhaniyi kudzera pa tsamba lawo la Facebook ndipo yati iye wavulala lachinayi pomwe anali kupanga nawo zokonzekera patsogolo pa chaka cha mpira cha 2025.

Iwo ati Willard wavulala phazi ndipo sapezeka kwa masabata anayi.

Mtsogoleri wa bungwe la Football Association of Malawi, Fleetwood Haiya, akhala akuyankhulana ndi anthu mdziko muno pofuna kumva maganizo awo pa momwe mpira mdziko muno ungatukukire.

A Haiya analengeza za dongosololi mwezi watha ndipo zatsimikizika kuti achita mwambowu lero pa 6 February 2025 nthawi ya 8 koloko.

Iwo akhale ali pa tsamba lawo la Facebook ndipo ndemanga za anthu omwe akuwatsatira ndi zomwe zitsatilidwe.

Anthu okwana khumi akhale akupeza ma T-shirt kamba kotenga nawo mbali pa mwambowu.

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Mtetemera deputise Mpinganjira, legends pack Nomads panel

Mighty Wanderers coach, Bob Mpinganjira, named his backroom staff with Macdonald Mtetemera appointed as his deputy at the team.

Mtetemera joins Mpinganjira after leaving Creck Sporting Club and will have to serve the Nomads in the 2025 season, returning to his home town.

Meanwhile, Mpinganjira has filled the panel with his fellow legends as Sherrie Msuku is the second Assistant coach, Francis Mlimbika as a fitness trainer and Alfred Manyozo Jr returning as a data analyst.

However, he has maintained Steve Madeira as a team manager, Peter Wadabwa as a strikers trainer and the goalkeepers' trainer, Simplex Nthala.

The technical panel has one year to probe themselves worthy to stay longer as the head coach signed a one year contract at the team.
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◉ Team Manager
Steve Madeira.

◉ Goalkeeper trainer
Simplex Nthala

◉ Strikers trainer
Peter Wadabwa

◉ Fitness Trainer
Frances Mlimbika

◉ Data Analyst
Alfred Manyozo jnr

Fazili: We want to test out strength

Scorchers head coach, Lovemore Fazili, says their two friendlies against Zambia will help them to build a very strong team as the team is expected to play also strong matches ahead.

Fazili said this after Football Association of Malswi secured two friendly matches against Zambia later this month after failure to meet Congo Brazzaville which withdrew from the WAFCON Qualifiers.

He said: "These are important matches, they will help to test our strengths and also weaknesses so i hope these games will help us build a strong team."

He further said he does not focus on winning these matches but rather coordination, physical fitness and looking into every department of the team.

The two matches will be played in Zambia on Thursday 20th February, and Sunday 23rd February 2025 as Zambia also test the team under a new coach.

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TRANSFER NEWS

Sports Torch has it that the newly promoted side, Ekhaya FC, has signed Bangwe All Stars forward, Clever Chikwata and Ntopwa FC captain, a defender, Macdonald Josephy.

The players will be unveiled anyday by the team.

Pasuwa, Mponda alimbirana mphoto

Kalisto Pasuwa, yemwe anali wa FCB Nyasa Big Bullets ndi Peter Mponda, yemwe anali ku Silver Strikers, alinbirane pa mphoto ya mphunzitsi wabwino mu chaka cha 2024 pa mwambo womwe bungwe la Football Association of Malawi likhale likupereka mphoto.

Mwambo wopereka mphotozi uliko pa 21 February 2025 ndipo FAM yasankha Pasuwa, Mponda komanso Eliya Kananji wa Blue Eagles kuti alimbirane pa mphotoyi.

Pasuwa, yemwe tsopano wachoka ku Bullets, anawina chikho cha Airtel Top 8 ndi timuyi pomwe Mponda, yemwe pano ali ku Bullets, anatenga supa ligi ndipo Kananji anatenga FDH Bank komanso kuyibwenzeretsa timu yake mu ligi yaikulu.

Ku mbali ya mphoto ya aphunzitsi a mpira wa amayi, Maggie Chombo wa FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Women, Thom Nkolongo wa Ascent Academy ndi Linda Kasenda wa Civil Women ndi omwe akupikisana.

Osagie wachoka ku Silver

Timu ya Silver Strikers yalengeza zoti katswiri wawo wosewera kutsogolo ku timuyi, Friday Osagie, tsopano wachoka atangokhalako miyezi isanu ndi imodzi okha.

Timuyi yalengeza za kuchoka kwa katswiriyu lachitatu masana kudzera pa tsamba lawo la mchezo.

Osagie, yemwe kwao ndi ku Nigeria, anapita kutimuyi pansi pa Peter Mponda ndipo wathandizira kutenga chikho cha TNM chaka chatha.

Singo, Chimbamba and Maonga up for Airtel Top 8 MVP award

Two FCB Nyasa Big Bullets players, Richard Chimbamba and Yankho Singo plus Silver Strikers' Chinsinsi Maonga will battle out for the Airtel Top 8 player of the tournament after being nominated for the award.

On Wednesday, the Football Association of Malawi unveiled the three players as nominees for the award following a brilliant outing in the tournament.

Singo and Chimbamba both won the tournament after Bullets beat Silver Strikers 1-0 in the final while Maonga finished as a top goal scorer.

DONE DEAL!

FOMO Fc and Creck Sporting Club have finally reached an agreement for the transfer of striker Hassan Hussein.

Creck Sporting have paid K4.5 Million for the young striker who stared for the Mulanje based side last year.

Hassan is expected to be in Lilongwe tomorrow to complete the signing and media duties.

Chelsea 3:1westham