Clubs accuse FAM, Sulom on violence
Super League clubs have said FAM and Sulom are the main architects of escalating violence during matches involving military and civilian teams.
During a stakeholders meeting Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) organised at Chiwembe Technical Centre in Blantyre on Thursday, the military and the civilian clubs argued that violence could not have escalated if soccer authorities had acted swiftly on disciplinary issues.
Bullets general secretary Higger Mkandawire and his Wanderers’ counterpart David Kanyenda argued that, apart from being frustrated by the alleged brutality of the Army teams, their fans are also infuriated by FAM and Sulom’s delays to discipline Army teams for poaching their players “while refusing to even pay the development fees”.
“We, civilian teams, have no sponsorship; yet, Army teams poach our players without paying development fees. Some well-wishers dig deep into their pockets to help us groom such talented players and someone just comes in to pick them for free. We complain to the authorities but no action is taken, then, what would you expect fans to do?” queried Mkandawire.
Silver Strikers’ representative Martin Kachikwati accused Sulom of double standards on player transfer wrangles, saying the Bankers have always been punished while other clubs go scot-free.
Representatives of civilian clubs also suggested that referees mess up games through poor officiation.
But Kamuzu Barracks chairperson Lieutenant Colonel Wyford Kalisha urged fans of civilian teams to refrain from singing songs which contain messages on national secutiry.
FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda and Sulom president Innocent Botomani, who presided over the meeting, conceded that sometimes they indeed relax on their duty to act on complaints. They, therefore, said from now onwards, there will be a significant change onwards.
“According to Fifa rules, we are supposed to act on disciplinary issues within 48 hours from the time of receiving a complaint. However, we should accept that sometimes we take unnecessarily long before taking action,” said Nyirenda.
