Clubs force Sulom to revise fixtures
Sulom has once again bowed down to pressure from some clubs and revised TNM Super League fixtures involving Silver Strikers.
Silver were supposed to host Kamuzu Barracks (KB) this Saturday, but now take on Epac FC in their title pursuit.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda on Monday said pressure from clubs such as Azam Tigers and Big Bullets forced them to revise the fixtures.
KB will on Sunday entertain Tigers, who face Blue Eagles on Saturday.
“We arrived at the decision after an emergency meeting. They are alleging that we are fixing the game so that Silver should beat Kamuzu Barracks and seal the championship and demoralise the Bankers’ next opponents. The definition of match-fixing has gone to another level,” said Banda.
He also said Bullets wanted to be at par with Silver on the number of matches played. Silver have 54 points from 25 games, trailed by Bullets on 52 points from 26 games.
Bullets general secretary Higger Mkandawire on Tuesday said they did not necessarily complain to Sulom “but advised them since so many things have been said after the Blantyre United game”.
But Banda hoped a harmonised calendar to be rolled out in April will solve the fixtures challenges.
Tigers’ general secretary Geoffrey Kachale said the championship race was compromised long time ago by irregular fixtures. He said he needed to verify with other Tigers officials if they queried Sulom on the fixtures.
A fortnight ago, some clubs also took Sulom to task for pairing Silver with Escom United on a Sunday after the Electricians had played Mafco in Dwangwa. It later transpired that it was Escom which requested to face Mafco first.
At one time most clubs ganged up against Silver for having five games in hand. Flames fixtures which had the Bankers contributing more players to warrant their exemption from matches had caused the pile-up of the games.
Silver have since hinted that they may seek legal redress on those peddling match-fixing rumours against them.
