Bullets in Zambezi cup breach

It really does not rain, but pours for Big Bullets. The People’s Team is embroiled in fresh turmoil, this time from Zambezi Challenge Cup organisers who are demanding compensation for breach of contract after failing to honour the fixture of the second edition against Caps United in Lilongwe on March 3.

While many thought that the match was rescheduled to Blantyre two days later, in which Bullets came out 2-1 victors, organisers of the mini-tournament Top Sports and Football Association of Malawi (FAM) have clarified that the Blantyre friendly was already on the initial programme and the actual Zambezi Challenge Cup match never took place.

At stake was K3 million for the winner and a K1 million consolation for the loser.

However, while agreeing that they failed to fulfil the fixture in Lilongwe, Bullets general secretary Harold Fote said they were acting on a directive from government not to play on March 3, which is Martyrs’ Day.

“Of course, the assumption was that after it failed to take place in Lilongwe, it was rescheduled to Blantyre, but that was not the case because the Blantyre match was already on the programme as a mere friendly match to assist Bullets to raise funds,” said Top Sports operations director Kelvin Moyo.

“Prior to the tournament, all the three parties agreed and signed a contract that was approved by FAM, which  included the two teams meeting twice, once each in Blantyre and Lilongwe with the actual Zambezi Challenge Cup match taking place in Lilongwe and another friendly in Blantyre two days later,” he said.

Moyo claimed that two days prior to the competitive match, Bullets contacted him asking that the competitive match be rescheduled because they had an engagement in the Shire Valley.

“We tried to make some changes, but it couldn’t work as our sponsor and Caps stuck to the agreed date. When we communicated the same to Bullets, they insisted on the changes.

“This was breach of the agreement as per Article 5, which states that if any of the parties had a problem, a week’s notice was supposed to be given,” said Moyo.

He further claimed that FAM also reminded Bullets that they had an obligation to honour the contract they had with Top Sports and Caps.

Moyo also justified his firm’s move not to turn the Blantyre friendly match into a Zambezi encounter because the sponsor had pulled out due to frustration.

He said Top Sports is in a tight corner as it has to compensate Caps who were not responsible for the cancellation.

“We consulted our legal adviser, who has recommended mediation considering that football matters are not supposed to be referred to court and we will be engaging FAM to arbitrate,” he said.

Weekend Nation is in possession of a letter FAM wrote Bullets on March 1 2015 advising them to fulfil the Zambezi Challenge Cup match.

In an interview on Tuesday, FAM competitions officer Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed that according to the programme, Caps United were supposed to play three matches in the country, including the Zambezi Challenge Cup.

“They only played two games—against Silver and Bullets—on the agreed dates while the actual Zambezi Cup match against Bullets did not take place because of Bullets’ failure to travel to Lilongwe,” said Zakazaka.

He said he was expected to brief FAM GS for his perusal.

But Fote said the main reason they did not travel to Lilongwe was because they were contacted by principal secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Justin Saidi, who advised them against playing the match on Martyrs’ Day.

“Our Shire Valley trip was secondary. The main reason was government’s intervention and FAM as well as Kelvin [Moyo] are aware about it because they, too, were contacted by the PS,” said Fote.

He also claimed that Moyo even contacted the PS on the issue.

But Moyo countered: “The agreement involved us, Bullets and Caps, not government. On the issue of appearance fee, that will be looked into after we sort out the other issues.”

Saidi yesterday said he needed more time to respond to the matter while Caps director Twine Phiri said in a telephone interview from Zimbabwe that they expect Top Sports to compensate them.