National Sports

Uncertainty over CAF tournaments

 

Nyasa Big Bullets have cast strong doubts over their participation in the 2017 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Inter-Club competitions amid financial concerns while their rivals Be Forward Wanderers have yet to decide.

According to CAF, registration for the Champions League and Confederations Cup is expected to conclude next month.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) media and competitions manager Gomezgani Zakazaka said Bullets qualify to play in the Champions League as defending  Super League champions while Wanderers can compete in the CAF Confederations Cup after winning the Carlsberg Cup, classified as a national tournament.

Moyo: Our participation is doubtful
Moyo: Our participation is doubtful

Bullets last competed in the Champions League in 2015 after losing to Egypt’s outfit Al-Hilal in the preliminary rounds. Their participation left the then sponsorship-less club burdened by debts.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Bullets general secretary Kelvin Moyo said although they are still consulting trustees, supporters and sponsors, it was doubtful that they would be taking part in the next edition.

“We are still consulting, but I would say, with all honesty, that it is very doubtful that we can contest in the competition,” he said, citing lack of funds.

Moyo also said the squad’s strength is another key factor they are assessing.

“We are also looking at our squad as to whether it is strong enough to compete against the best in Africa. All these factors will be taken into consideration in our final decision whether to register or not,” he said.

Wanderers’ general secretary Mike Butao said they have not made any decision on the matter as they are still consulting their sponsors Be Forward Company Limited and the club’s leadership.

Football analyst Felix Ngamanya-Sapao has expressed concern over Malawian clubs’ failure to compete in the CAF Inter-Club competitions which, he said, could have financially benefited them if they reached the group stages.

“It seems only Malawi clubs do not participate. Clubs from smaller countries like Swaziland, Lesotho, the Comoros, Mauritius, the Gambia, Burundi  and Rwanda take part in the competition,” he said.

Sapao said most of the teams in the CAF tournaments are funded by the sponsors of the competitions they won to qualify for the continental tournaments.

“I believe that if, for example, TNM which sponsors the Super League can sponsor the champion in the CAF competition, it would be easy for Malawi to have representation,” he said. n

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