Nomads players summon exco
While Be Forward Wanderers are considered to be financially sound having landed K70 million (US$155 556) sponsorship from Be Forward Limited, it has not been all rosy in the blue side of town as the players demanded to meet the club’s leadership on Thursday over their outstanding dues before they could proceed with preparations for their Super League games this weekend.
But while confirming that the players demanded to meet the executive committee, club general secretary Mike Butao and team manager Stevie Madeira yesterday dismissed reports that the players had staged a sit-in, describing them as “classic exaggeration”.
“It wasn’t a sit-in as reported by some radio stations. They were simply requesting my presence so that I clarify a few issues to do with funding.
“We only get funding once a month, so in some cases it is not possible to pay bonuses immediately after a game if the funds for that month are not yet in [and] this needed to be explained very clearly to the boys that these are just logistical delays,” said Butao.
He added: “We need to balance books for the previous month before we can request for current month funding.”
It is reported that when push came to shove as the players insisted on the meeting, the club’s leadership was jostled into action and the club’s vice-general secretary Chris Kananji had to travel all the way from Lilongwe to address the players.
Weekend Nation has established that Wanderers players are owed bonuses for three games and club chairperson George Chamangwana is reported to have rescued the situation by giving the players K15 000 (US$33) each as part payment.
Butao confirmed the development, saying this happened because he had been away for two weeks.
“My vice [Kananji] travelled to Blantyre and together with the rest of the exco, I understand they addressed the boys.
“Eventually, everyone will have to get used to the new way of doing things. What matters is that these are just delays, it is different from not being paid altogether,” said the Nomads GS.
Madeira played down suggestions that the issue could affect the team’s performance against Mafco this afternoon and Civo United tomorrow.
“Not at all. The situation is under control and the team has since left for the Central Region,” he said.
The Nomads are currently one of the best sponsored teams in the domestic premier league and at the start of the season, they embarked on an ambitious rebuilding drive that saw them rope in a number of new players, notably Jabulani Linje, Jimmy Zakazaka, Muhammad Sulumba, Rafique Mussa, Cameroonian Lionel Assu, Isaac Kaliati, Malumbo Gondwe and Stanely Sanudi. They are also hoping to finalise Flames right-back John Lanjesi’s deal.
