Dedza quotes K800 000 legal bill to Sulom

Dedza Young Soccer Saints have filed a legal bill of K800 000 to Super League of Malawi (Sulom) after the High Court ruled that the top league governing body should pay all the legal fees emanating from the play-offs injunction.

Dedza obtained an injunction to stop the play-offs to determine the 16th team to play in the on-going season after Sulom decided to increase the number of clubs.

The planned play-offs involving Wizards FC, Airborne Rangers and Dedza were stopped after Dedza argued that it was supposed to qualify automatically by virtue of finishing in 13th position which is better than the other two teams.

In an interview yesterday, Dedza legal adviser Williams Nkhoma said after working out on their expenses during the court  battle, they settled for K800 000.

“We hired a lawyer who was representing us. So after doing all the necessary calculations we reached at that figure,” he said.

Nkhoma, however, said they have not served Sulom with the legal fees: “We have just finalised with the calculations. You will be told once we have served them,” he said.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said he could not say anything because they have not received the bill.

But lawyer Michael Goba Chipeta said the procedure is that if Sulom has queries with the legal costs presented by Dedza then it can seek the court’s intervention.

“But if Sulom does not have any problems then it is just a matter of one party paying the other,” he said.