Failed coup
A plot by some Super League clubs to forcibly remove the Innocent Bottoman-led Super League of Malawi (Sulom) executive at this Saturday’s annual general meeting (AGM) has backfired after the plotters chickened out.
It emerged that some clubs were holding meetings mobilising each other to move the motion when Sulom holds its meeting in Mangochi this weekend, according to our sources.
However, the move has failed to materialise after the clubs disagreed on who should move the motion.
One of the plotters, Civil Sporting Club general secretary (GS) Ronald Chiwaula said the move had flopped because they did not make the notice of vote of no confidence within the required 21 days.
He said: “There was indeed that proposal, but it has flopped because those that made the suggestion [vote of no confidence] did not file the notice within the required days.”
Chiwaula said everything went according to plan on a WhatsApp group created for the purpose until some teams started chickening out.
“The other thing is that only 10 teams instead of the 16 were being represented on the forum. They also wanted me [as Civil GS] to be in the forefront and we had our reservations,” he said.
However, Be Forward Wanderers GS Mike Butao, who is reported to have created the WhatsApp group, said the aim was not to impeach Sulom ex-co, but to present the clubs’ grievances.
“The truth is that we have concerns as clubs which we want Sulom to address this season,” he said.
But screenshots from the group’s conversation suggests otherwise.
In one of the conversations, Nyasa Big Bullets chief executive officer Fleetwood Haiya suggests that Football Association of Malawi (FAM) should run the league for a year after the dissolution of the executive committee.
“FAM can manage the league for us for a year while we are establishing our own secretariat. The question is how do we go about it? Should we write or move a motion at the AGM? Gents, let’s share ideas,” Haiya posted on the group.
The Bullets CEO later described the plot as a “a healthy discussion on how best to develop our footbal in Malawi”.
According to Sulom constitution Article 54, “Sulom may be dissolved or merged with another association with similar purposes and objects, in each case only, on a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of the membership of Sulom on the grounds that Sulom has become dormant or is unable to fulfil its purposes and objectives.”
But this can only happen at an AGM “specially convened for the purpose”.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said he was not aware of the plot.
“What I know is that we sent 21 days notice of AGM to clubs. We also asked the clubs to send questions or proposals to be on the agenda at the AGM. The questions and proposals were expected in on or before March 27.”
The GS said so far, clubs had put forward several proposals.
“But none was on vote of no confidence,” he said. n
