Winners of the K12.5 million (about $50 000) Fellowship Association of Malawi (Fama) Top Eight Cup, Blue Eagles, have said their patience has worn thin with organisers of the tournament following their delay to give them their K3 million (about $12 000) prize, almost a month and a half down the line.
The final match of the tournament was staged on May 5 at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, where Eagles emerged victorious after beating Big Bullets 7-6 on post-match penalties.
The final was graced by high-profile figures such as Vice-President President Khumbo Kachali, Youth and Sports Minister Enock Chakufwa Chihana and Inspector General of Malawi Police Service (MPS) Lot Dzonzi.
Blue Eagles general secretary Ackis Muwanga on Wednesday said they would now seek Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Sulom’s intervention having failed to get their prize money from Fama.
“All our efforts to get our prize money from the organisers have proved futile and there has been no further communication over the delay.
“Our patience has now worn thin and we have no choice, but to seek FAM and Sulom’s intervention to help us get the money,” said Muwanga.
He said they are also getting pressure from the players who want their dues.
“Apart from that, we spent a lot in preparing as well as the actual participation in the tournament,” he said.
Similarly, Bullets chairperson Malinda Chinyama said his club is yet to get almost half of their K1 million (about $4 000) prize.
“I remember we got about K450 000 [about $1 800] from Fama prior to the final match to settle an overdraft we got from a bank to prepare for the tournament and the agreement was that they would deduct the money from our prize.
“So, in essence, they [Fama] still owe us a little over K500 000 [about $2 000]. I think Fama did not do their homework properly because there were a lot of financial complications during the tournament, but there are channels that we are following to get the remainder of the [prize] money,” said Chinyama.
Both Eagles and BB warned that they might not take part in the tournament in future, if they do not get their dues.
However, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu on Wednesday said it would be difficult for the association to intervene as it did not sanction the competition.
“We did not take any part in the organisation of the competition; therefore, even our entry point will be difficult. In fact, during our last executive committee meeting, it was agreed that we needed to inform Fama that all tournaments are supposed to be authorised by FAM, being the national football governing body.
“But it is a pity if clubs have not received their money because they spent a lot. If we were approached by the clubs, we would have advised them on how to proceed because even the format was intense,” said Nyamilandu.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said soon after the tournament started that the Fama tournament did not have their blessings.
Efforts to get hold of Fama organising secretary Japhet Majekete proved futile on Wednesday, but last month he gave his word to the clubs that they would get their prize money last week.
