Sulom faces reforms
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) will undergo a restructuring process following Fifa recommendations that, among other things, the league runners’ should have a full-fledged secretariat with a permanent general secretary (GS).
The reformation, according to outgoing Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda, follows an organisational review that Fifa undertook in May.
Nyirenda said: “When the Fifa envoy came in May to review FAM and all its affiliates, these are some of the issues discussed with Sulom and clubs. Fifa looked at the composition of Sulom executive, secretariat and its standing committees and how best they can be streamlined with those of FAM.”
Meanwhile, Fifa consultant Robbie Middleby is in the country to help FAM and Sulom come up with a road map to the reforms.
Middleby met FAM, Sulom and Super League clubs at the Mpira Village in Blantyre on Monday.
The Fifa consultant said Malawi needs to form football structures that are suitable for its environment while following best practices.
“It is very important that when you are building something it should not be just copy and paste. It is a recipe for disaster.
“You need to look at what is important for key stakeholders in Malawi and make sure that it is not rushed and that it is something you plan and is sustainable,” said Middleby.
FAM second vice-president Othanial Hara said the meeting will help Malawi reorganise its elite football by following best practices.
“There are a lot of issues that we are not doing right. In terms of how we negotiate contracts, how our teams and the league itself are run. So, it was important to bring all these key stakeholders together to bang heads and be on the same footing,” he said.
Sulom treasurer Tiya Somba-Banda described the meeting as an eye-opener, saying Malawi needs to put in place systems to professionally run the league.
“We need to review how we are doing things and look at the best practices in the world and compare. That is the only way we can move forward. As of now, we just wake up and think of how to run the league.
“The governance structure of the league and clubs is very paramount for everything to move forward. Also key is commercialisation, which as Malawi, we have failed to capitalise on and the meeting,” he said.
Sulom GS Williams Banda, while acknowledging the importance of the reforms, said Sulom would need resources to implement the changes.
“Sulom reforms should be gradual. Employing a permanent general secretary will need a lot of resources,” he said.
At the end of the meeting a taskforce comprising Mike Butao (representing clubs), Alfred Lungu (Sulom) and two FAM officials has been set to liaise with Fifa (through Middleby) on the restructuring of the Super League.
