Bullets Central Region brass back in the fold
Big Bullets Central Region (CR) Executive Committee has reversed its earlier decision to quit.
The change of heart follows a meeting with the club’s first vice-chairperson Gregory Madeya and Sulom general secretary Williams Banda held in Lilongwe on Wednesday evening.
Bullets’ Central Region leadership led by second vice-chairperson Austin Kasito resigned en masse last Sunday in reaction to some Blantyre-based fans who threatened Kasito prior to Bullets’ game against Mighty Wanderers at Civo Stadium.
Madeya confirmed persuading Kasito and others to change their mind for the good of the team while Banda said as a body mandated to run the league by FAM, they were concerned that the internal wrangles that had rocked the team were getting out of hand, hence the intervention.
“We had a lengthy meeting and what came out clearly was that there seems to be a communication breakdown between the two camps [Central and Southern]. In fact, Kasito said he has nothing personal against either the chairperson [Malinda Chinyama] or the GS [Higger Mkandawire], but that it is their style of operation that he has problems with,” said Madeya
He said at the end of the meeting, himself and the Sulom GS agreed to take up issues raised by Kasito and company with the Blantyre-based executive members.
“There were several issues that were raised and the intended attack on Kasito was one of them and we condemned it in strongest terms. We told them that the season is already heading towards a close, so it is better that we finish together so that all outstanding issues can be tackled during the forthcoming AGM [annual general meeting].
“In the end, all the members were understanding and agreed to reverse their decision,” said Madeya.
Asked in what capacity Sulom summoned the Bullets CR brass, Banda said: “Bullets just like any other Super League team, is our affiliate and having noted that they had a serious problem that led to the resignation of the entire CR executive, we felt the issue needed our urgent attention and we are happy that they accommodated our request to reverse the decision and wait for the AGM.”
On behalf of his colleagues, Kasito confirmed rescinding their decision, saying: “We discussed the issue at length and we agreed to retreat. However, we will come up with a clear position at a later stage.”
However, the team’s former treasurer Kondi Msungama has described the development as mere window-dressing because the root problem was not addressed.
“We saw all this coming and that is why myself, Kasito and Northern Region-based trustee Dorcas Chenda-Mkandawire wrote Bullets executive a letter [dated November 27], asking them to call for a meeting to discuss crucial issues such as the sale of Gabadinho [Mhango], players’ welfare, accountability of proceeds from the clubhouse and gate collections, among others.
“Unfortunately, when I took up the issue with the GS, he refused saying they would be addressed at the AGM. Apparently, they were the same issues that the CR executive committee had.
“If anything, the chairperson and the GS should have attended the Lilongwe meeting to face their colleagues. And, why did it have to take Sulom’s intervention as if we had exhausted all internal channels of mediation?” Msungama asked.
