Five of the 16 TNM Super League clubs risk having their points docked for failing to meet licensing requirements in full.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has awarded full club licences to 11 clubs for the 2025 season following a review by its club licensing first instant body.
However, five clubs, namely Civil Service United, Chitipa United, Songwe Border United, Mighty Tigers and Karonga United have been granted licences with sanctions.
sanctions. | Nation
A statement from FAM says the teams have up to May 5 to fulfil all the requirements or risk having four points deducted and a further three points docked every month until they meet all the requirements.
The statement reads in part: “Civil Service United, Chitipa United, Songwe Border United, Mighty Tigers, and Karonga United have been granted licences with sanctions due to their failure to fully comply with licensing conditions.
“Failure to do so will result in an initial four-point deduction in the TNM Super League standings. If the issues remain unresolved after one month, the clubs will face an additional three-point deduction at the end of every subsequent month until full compliance is achieved.”
FAM club licensing manager Clement Kafwafwa in an interview said they have introduced sanctions to ensure that clubs comply with the licensing regulations.
He said: “We noted that clubs were deliberately ignoring some requirements, thinking that they won’t face any sanctions if they do so.
“This time, there will be sanctions. The deduction of points will continue until the clubs fully comply with the club licensing requirements.”
Blue Eagles, Creck Sporting Club, Dedza Dynamos, Ekhaya FC, FCB Nyasa Bullets, Kamuzu Barracks, Mafco, Mighty Wanderers, Moyale Barracks, Mzuzu City Hammers and Silver Strikers met all the requirements.
In a related development, FAM at the weekend held a two-day club licensing seminar for newly established NBS Bank National Division League which kicks off on May 24.
Representatives from all 12 teams set to participate in the competition were in attendance.
FAM technical director Benjamin Kumwenda, who is also a member of the club licensing first instance body, said the training focused on five criteria aimed at professionalising the second tier league.
He said: “The first is the sporting criteria where we are imparting knowledge on how they can develop young players. The other one is infrastructure where we wanted them to play in stadiums which are not occupied by the Super League teams because we want them to play on better pitches”
“We are also drilling them how they can manage finances within their teams. Then the other one is about administration and personnel where we wanted them to have offices an administrative officer.”
