Clubs yet to start paying K3m licensing fee

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says none of the TNM Super League clubs has paid the new K3 million licensing fee.

FAM announced the introduction of the harmonised fee in December, which will include Super League affiliation and cup tournaments’ fees.

However, in an interview yesterday, the association’s licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale played down the development, saying there is still time.

He said: “We remain optimistic that the clubs will pay the fees because it is one of the requirements for them to be issued with a licence.”

Jangale said they have set February 18 as the deadline for the clubs to meet the requirements.

“So, they still have time, otherwise their documents will not be processed,” he said.

But some clubs, especially those that do not have sponsorship, opposed the move, saying it is meant to milk clubs.

Ekwendeni Hammers patron Gift Mkandawire said: “The move is not justified, we are all not Silver Strikers who sit on money.

“FAM gets funding from Fifa, why can’t they be the ones providing the clubs with licensing fees instead of milking an already thin cow?

“It is not something that we would smile at. Not at all.”

Jangale also reiterated that clubs that owe players money will not be registered.

“So far, players from five clubs have lodged complaints to us and we are urging players that are owed by their respective clubs to come forward. They should not suffer in silence,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jangale said they will start visiting clubs next week to see if they meet the requirements.

“Among others, we will check if they indeed have offices and training grounds,” he said.