League can’t start—SULOM
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary (GS) Williams Banda has brushed-off suggestions that the flagship league should still roll out even without sponsorship.
Banda said the league cannot start because some clubs and media houses owe the league-runners substantial amount of money, which can be used for the league’s operations.
“It is not that we cannot kick off without a sponsor, but the challenge is that we cannot meet operational costs because we are owed a lot of money by some clubs and media houses,” he said.
“We are also banking on this money to pay the referees and other service providers, who we owe outstanding balances from last season. Therefore, we cannot go on accumulating debts.”
However, the Sulom GS could be drawn into stating the exact figure they are owed, but it is believed to be in millions of Kwacha.
Clubs owe Sulom registration and affiliation fee balances while media houses are yet to pay radio and Television broadcasting rights in full.
Registration and affiliation fees cost about K750 000 per team and part of it was being deducted from the K1 million subvention fees which each club got from former sponsors TNM.
The Sulom GS said: “Governance and prudence doesn’t allow us to discuss figures.”
However, some teams insist that the league can still kick off even under the circumstances.
Said Wanderers GS Mike Butao: “It is easy for Sulom to get a temporary overdraft or loan against the gate-takings and use that for operations. Let the league start on April 8.
“As for the media houses that owe Sulom, they will be forced to payback once the league kicks off, otherwise they will not be allowed to cover matches. In my understanding, this has always been the trend.
“In any case, who do Sulom expect to collect the debts for them. Sulom needs to realise that this delay is stangling clubs financially,” he said.
On his part, Silver Strikers general secretary Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda said: “The longer the kick off is delayed, the more the costs clubs which have to foot upkeep and trailing allowances for the players and technical staff.”
He said the challenge can be addressed by restructuring the gate collections’ sharing process.
“The share that goes to FAM [Football Association of Malawi] and Malawi National Council of Sports should be channelled towards the league’s operations. Ut has happened before and it can happen now,” said Chakaka Nyirenda.
However, the National Football Referees Association (NRFA) through its general secretary Chris Kalichelo recently warned that unless Sulom pays them their officiation fee dues for last season amounting to K5.2 million.
