Debate ensues ahead of AGM

Some Super League teams are planning to lobby for the inclusion of clubs’ representation to the Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) annual general meetings (AGM) in the Super League of Malawi’s (Sulom) constitution.

The development comes in the wake of Sulom’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) scheduled for today at Sunbird Lilongwe hotel which is expected to deliberate on the draft constitution before adopting and ratifying it.

It also comes in the countdown to FAM’s elective general assembly slated for December 12. Sulom’s draft constitution only states that it shall be represented by eight delegates at the FAM general assembly.

Big Bullets FC chairperson Samuel Chilunga on Friday confirmed that there is a campaign to push for the inclusion of clubs’ representation in the Sulom constitution.

“One of the reasons Fifa proposed an increased number of national league delegates to national association general assembly was that elite leagues should have a voice through their governing body and three of the eight delegates are supposed to come from the clubs.

“The only thing that we are yet to agree on is how the clubs’ representatives should be identified and we are suggesting that it should be through league standings of the previous seasons,” said Chilunga.

Silver Strikers general secretary Fred Kalonga said: “A simple arrangement proposed [through an email forum] by Be Forward Wanderers general secretary [GS] Mike Butao and supported by me and Bullets would be to allow three teams that finished in the top three to go and represent us all [and mind you, Wanderers and Silver are nowhere near the top three].

“The suggestion was made for the good of the game and also to simplify the process and that was unanimously agreed. Unfortunately, it is being shot down by some quarters and I am not sure if this issue can be resolved by tomorrow [today].”

Butao confirmed having taken the first step on the issue.

“It was with the sole purpose of advancing clubs’ interests because Sulom does not seek our views when going to FAM AGM, which is unfortunate because they are supposed to represent our interests.

“But I withdrew from the debate because some quarters from Sulom think I am championing the cause of incumbent FAM president Walter Nyamilandu which is not the case. What I can say though is that there is a very healthy debate going on and I do not believe one day will be enough to conclude the review.

“The healthy debate gives me confidence that delegates will come up with a constitution that puts clubs first and not prioritising Sulom over clubs,” said Butao.

However, in his contribution, Fisd Wizards chairperson Mike Tembo noted that the FAM constitution is silent on the criteria and composition of Sulom delegation to FAM general assembly, “as such it is prone to abuse and needs to be put in the constitution so that it establishes clear-cut guidelines.

“My proposal though is that is should comprise the president, vice-president, general secretary, vice-general secretary, treasurer. On committee members, it should be based on a voting tally obtained at Sulom elective assembly.

“The executive members with higher votes are ranked higher on the protocol list since by default, they represent 2015more members than those that got the least votes. As a way of recognising that fact, they should be in the delegation since that would be translated as a representative view of the teams that voted for the members.

Information gathered by Weekend Nation is that the debate on the inclusion of clubs representation reached a critical stage with Sulom treasurer Tiya Somba-Banda arguing that the procedures were already laid down at a FAM AGM in Mzuzu where it was resolved that it would be Sulom president’s prerogative to choose who represents the clubs at FAM AGMs.

“Unfortunately, this claim is not being supported apart from recalling that certain individuals raised the point. Apparently, it is [also] being challenged by FAM GS Suzgo Nyirenda and executive member Jabbar Alide who insist that clubs must determine how their representation at the AGM should be structured. So, we will see how it goes tomorrow [today],” said Kalonga.

Among other proposals which the clubs are planning to table are that naming rights should belong to the clubs and not the league sponsor as it is now.

“Sulom hijacked clubs’ naming rights and we want that to be normalised at tomorrow’s [EGM]. The meeting should agree where the league’s sponsor should be placed on the jerseys so that the clubs can also consider where to put their partners and sponsors,” said Butao.

Abolishment of the positions of GS and treasurer is also another proposal that has been put forward by Fisd Wizards.

“Trends around are that those positions are operations and need full-time staff and not volunteers as is the case right now. Due to this, operational decisions and day-to-day management of the secretariat are hampered,” reads part of Wizards’ proposal.