Kukoma Ntopwa FC yesterday made a dramatic U-turn on withdrawing from the Cosafa Women’s Champions League which kicks off tomorrow in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The club’s founder and technical director Isaac Jomo Osman yesterday morning announced that they had pulled out of the tournament after failing to raise a K40 million air travel deficit.
“We have tried all possible means of securing adequate funding, but we have failed. Now, I can confirm that we are not travelling to South Africa for the tournament,” he had said.
for the Cosafa Champions League
two years ago. | Courtesy of Kukoma Ntopwa
But Osman changed his mind later on and the team was scheduled to board a Kenya Airways flight to Nairobi last evening from where it would connect to Johannesburg.
A source said a delegation comprising 20 players and five technical officials, including Osman, were at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe yesterday to board an Airlink flight based on an earlier booking.
Said the source: “But this did not work as the club did not make confirmation of the flight.
“However, they have been confirmed for the Kenys Airways flight and have already checked in.”
Osman confirmed the sudden change of plans, but could not provide further details, saying: “I will update you on further developments. later”
The club risked a fine of between $50 000 (K87.5 million) and $75 000 (about K131.3 million) and other sanctions, including a two-year ban had it withdrawn from the regional competition .
Capital Oil Refining Industries sponsorship coordinator Violet Kapolo said they were aware of the team’s predicament and were expecting to meet Osman yesterday morning.
“He was supposed to come here [at our offices] this morning for a meeting on the way forward, but up to now, he hasn’t showed up,” she said.
However, in an interview yesterday, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said Ntopwa had not officially communicated to them about their intention to withdraw.
He said: “As far we are concerned, they are still in the competition because there is nothing official from them to that effect.”
