Blame game as Sulom resolutions go unimplemented
Almost all resolutions agreed upon at a stakeholders meeting in the quest to professionalise the Super League of Malawi have not been implemented, putting the ambitious dream in jeopardy.
Instead, clubs and Sulom are embroiled in a blame-game on who is responsible for the failure to implement the resolutions.
Some of the resolutions have been implemented partially while others have been ignored completely.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda blamed the clubs for the hitch, claiming they are being selective on which resolutions to implement.
“Teams are not committed to the cause. For instance, we tried to enforce the contracts issue, but there were teams such as Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers which did not comply,” said Banda.
He said the so-called big teams also resisted outsourcing gate management.
Banda said Sulom reverted to exempting only teams which contribute three players or more to the national team in the interest of several factors such as smooth running of the league calendar.
However, Silver chairperson McDonald Mafuta-Mwale, Wanderers GS David Kanyenda and his Bullets and Azam Tigers counterparts Higger Mkandawire and Geoff Kachale respectively, said Sulom should shoulder the blame for failing to enforce the resolutions.
“We are just good at talking and coming up with ideas, but when it comes to implementing, there is absolutely nothing on the ground,” said Mafuta-Mwale.
Kanyenda was neutral on putting the league on hold when the Flames are in camp.
“The critical point is that we should observe Fifa rules regarding the release of players. Teams such as Evirom and Mzuzu United, who do not contribute even a single player to the national team, have a point when they raise concerns,” he said.
Just like Mafuta-Mwale, Kanyenda argued that military, police and tertiary institutions should be treated like any other team.
“We just have football clubs and we are supposed to be treated equally,” he said.
Mkandawire and Kachale said Sulom should not run away from its responsibility of administering the league, including enforcing resolutions agreed upon by the stakeholders.
FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said they initiated the meeting that made the resolutions as a form of guidance.
“There is no need for finger-pointing as we will have a critical assessment during the follow-up meeting and we will ensure that progress is made,” said Nyirenda.
