The Macedonian top flight in the new season will have 11 instead of 12 participants as Renova decided not to take place.

Renova sent an announcement to FFM that won’t be participating in the new season, not just in the 1.MFL but anywhere with a senior team.

“With this announcement we inform you that the Football club Renova AD Djepchishte, Tetovo cancels its participation in the 1.MFL season 2022/2023, while we will continue participating in all youth championships” – says the announcement that Renova sent to FFM.

Since the draw for both 1.MFL and 2.MFL have already taken place, there is no time for changes. So, no team will take Renova’s place in the top flight, meaning that at the end only one team instead of two will face direct relegation. There will be no changes in the play-out spots, nor the promotion spots in the second league. Now every round one team will be idle in the season that starts on Saturday.

Renova has been on the Macedonian football map since 2003 when they bought the third league West spot of Shkumbini and immediately won promotion after finishing top in their group and then winning the play-off. In their first second league season they ended as runners-up thus winning promotion to the top flight.

Since then they have been regular top flight side for the past 17 seasons. In the season 2009/10 they won their first and only 1.MFL title, while they won the Macedonian Cup in 2011/12 after defeating Rabotnichki 3:1 in the final in Shtip.

Renova’s record in the 1.MFL:

seasons: 17
titles: 1
matches: 549
wins: 216
draws: 160
loses: 173
goal-difference: 729:650
points: 808