Escom ask Sulom to reschedule Silver game

Cash-strapped Escom United have successfully asked the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) to reschedule their meeting with leaders Silver Strikers from Saturday to Sunday.

Escom want to cut costs by playing Mafco in Dwangwa, spend a night there, then proceed to Silver Stadium on Sunday, Sulom general secretary Williams Banda clarified on Thursday.

“They were supposed to play Mafco some months ago, but they gave an excuse and the fixture was revised in their favour. They have again asked us that they would rather spend a night in Dwangwa, which is cheaper, then proceed on the same day to Blantyre after facing Silver on Sunday,” said Banda.

He made the clarification after Blantyre United assistant coach Steve Mbulaje, unaware of Escom’s request, on Wednesday night challenged the revision of the fixtures, fearing that Escom would be exhausted on Sunday, thereby putting Silver at an advantage.

Second-placed Blantyre United and Silver are tied at 48 points, but the Bankers have two games in hand.

Silver general secretary Owen Munthali said they had no say on the fixtures, adding that “none of our officials are in Sulom executive let alone Sulom fixtures committee to influence anything.”

“We do not even mind if Sulom brought our game against Escom back to Saturday. It is not our making that we have more games in hand. Bad things are being said about Silver, but we will just keep quiet,” said Munthali.

Escom chairperson Fanuel Nkhono was not available for comment while his general secretary Richard Samba said he was away and has been out of touch with recent events.

Higger Mkandawire, general secretary of Bullets, confirmed that Escom asked Sulom to revise the weekend’s fixtures. Bullets are third on 46 points from 24 games. Escom are second from the bottom on 19 points from 23 games.