Max bullets disband
MTV Max Bullets owner Max Kapanda yesterday announced the disbanding of his club in protest against a K1 million fine for causing abandonment of the match against Epac United at Civo Stadium on October 8.
But Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has warned Kapanda that he risks a K5 million fine if the club goes on to boycott their remaining matches.
In an interview yesterday, Kapanda said that he has disbanded the team because of “Sulom’s unfair treatment”.
He said: “I have dissolved the team. We will not fulfill the fixtures because we feel we have been ill-treated. I still believe that we were not wrong in any way in that match.”
The match was abandoned after MTV Max Bullets, who were leading 1-0, conceded a goal which they felt was dubiously awarded.
Sulom, in line with Article 21.8 of its rules and regulations, last week fined Bullets K700 000 for causing the match abandonment.
Kapanda and coach Trevor Kajawa were ordered to pay K150 000 each for influencing their players to abandon the match and verbally abusing the match assessor.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda warned that Bullets could face the punitive fines than the K1 million they are complaining about.
“He [Kapanda] hasn’t communicated to us about his decision, but let me just advise him against quitting because it could cause more problems to him personally. He might even be banned from taking part in any football activity,” he said.
To establish the fine, Banda said they will estimate the revenue from each boycotted match.
“The fine, according to our constitution, is calculated based on the revenue loss a particular team’s withdrawal caused. So, if Max [Bullets] were supposed to play Civo United, we will refer to the amount a similar fixture raised in the first round. The total of all boycotted matches plus other fines in line with our rules and regulations is what Max Bullets could pay,” he said without specifying the other rules the club might have flouted.
Banda said they will not act on the matter until Kapanda officially communicates his decision to abandon the top flight league.
“We will also try to engage him in discussion so that we can reason with him,” he said.
Bullets currently have eight matches to play and languish at the bottom of the table with eight points.
They are expected to play Mafco tomorrow and Dwangwa United on Sunday at Chitowe in Nkhotakota.
Despite the Sulom advice, Kapanda has insisted that he will not change his stand.
“The team is disbanded, so who are they going to fine? I swear I will not pay them any money not even the K1 million they are asking,” he said.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said he was shocked that Max Bullets have decided to terminate their Super League campaign. n
