Coaches in the FDH Bank Premiership have criticised the five-week mid-season break, saying the extended layoff left their players rusty and affected their performance upon the league’s return.

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets head coach Wedson Nyirenda and LUANAR Mitundu head coach Oscar Kaunda shared their views after their teams played their first matches following the break. Bullets beat Blue Eagles, while Mitundu drew with Red Lions.

Nyirenda said the break should have lasted only two weeks, describing the extended period as “an off-season within the season”.

He noted that a typical off-season lasts five to six weeks, arguing that the lengthy interruption affected his players’ sharpness.

Kaunda, meanwhile, said his players struggled to regain their usual level of performance. He attributed this partly to the friendly matches they played during the break, arguing that facing smaller teams gave his players a misleading impression of their form.

Despite the challenges, Kaunda expressed confidence that Mitundu would improve in their upcoming fixtures.

Most clubs completed their first-round matches on 6 September, while LUANAR Mitundu and Dedza Dynamos finished on 9 September. Blue Eagles and Mighty Wanderers concluded their first rounds on 19 September.

The mid-season break was initially scheduled to last two weeks but was extended by a further three weeks to accommodate the FIFA international break, resulting in a five-week interruption to the league.