Bullets players ‘fire’ executive
Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC), sponsors of Nyasa Big Bullets FC, have backed the players’ move to ‘fire’ the executive committee
Bullets were thrown into fresh turmoil on Tuesday when the players resolved to fire their executive committee at a meeting held in Blantyre. They accused it of disregarding their welfare and failing to fulfil contractual obligations, in particular honouring signing on fees amounting to K43 million.
The players also agreed that the main supporters committee should, in the interim, take over the running of the team.
Team captain Chiukepo Msowoya confirmed the development yesterday, saying: “This was a unanimous decision by us players because we have have lost confidence in the current leadership.
“We have persevered long enough and we cannot take it anymore.”
Asked if players have the powers to remove the executive committee, the burly forward said: “These people have failed us, we had another option to boycott training and matches due to the club’s failure to honour its contractual obligations, but we did not want to go that far.”
The club’s acting general secretary and spokesperson Kelvin Moyo said he could not comment until he gets official communication from the players.
“I have heard about it, but it would be premature for me to comment at this stage.”
However, main supporters committee chairperson Stone Mwamadi said while he understood the players’ plight, the best way forward would be to wait for the proposed extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to determine the way forward.
“While we bear with the players, personally I would suggest that the executive should remain so that it explains to the EGM how it has spent K45 million [from the annual K100 million] sponsorship. They should not get away with that,” he said.
Bullets Board of trustees chairperson James Busile yesterday said he was aware of the development, “but I am yet to be briefed on what exactly transpired at the players’ meeting.”
On his part, NMC managing director Dimitri Kalaitzis said: “We are trying not to get involved in the club politics, but as sponsors, we are 100 percent behind the players because the players welfare is our number one priority.”
Renowned soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda expressed the need for Sulom’s intervention.
“Sulom, as regulators, need to step in and ensure professionalism in the way the game is managed.
“As part of club licensing, solvency of a club is critical. There should be a cap on the volume of debts clubs can accumulate to prevent this sort of thing happening,” he said. n
