Chilobwe United are champions of the 2024 edition of the Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) League Betika Division One after beating Chilomoni FC 4-2 on post-match penalties at Balaka Stadium on Sunday.
The match ended goalless in regulation time, forcing the referee to call for penalties to decide the ultimate winner.
Chilobwe Coach Henry Solomon said victory would have gone either way.
“Penalties are unpredictable. You really can never tell which way they would go. But I thank my players for fighting their way through. Chilomoni are also a very good team and you cannot take anything away from them. Just as we have won, they could have also done the same,” Solomon said.
His Chilomoni counterpart Steve Bakali said his charges gave out their best and were unfortunate to finish on the losing side.
“What a match it was! Both teams did their best to win but, with penalties, nobody can be sure about what happens next.
My players were competing in this league for the first time and they have delivered beyond expectations. We will now shift our focus on preparations for next season,” Bakali said.
SRFA Chairperson Raphael Humba congratulated the two teams for making it to the final despite being newcomers.
“It has been such a great season with our new sponsor Betika. We have seen improved standards of the game throughout the season and congratulations to Chilobwe for lifting the title. Chilomoni have also performed very well and could have easily lifted the championship,” Humba said.
In a third place play-off match that curtain-raised the final, Prison United beat Namikango Mission 2-0.
The four teams have automatically qualified for the 2025 Thumbs Up Premier Division.
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