FAM on Sulom’s neck as club vs country saga resurfaces

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has faulted its influential  affiliate Super League of Malawi (Sulom) over its decision that Mighty Mukuru Wanderers will have to fulfil their TNM Super fixture against Dedza Dynamos despite contributing seven players to the Flames ahead of Saturday’s Africa Nations Championsip qualifier against Mozambique.

In its letter to the Nomads on Wednesday, Sulom stated that the club should still fulfil its fixture against Dedza on Sunday as the Flames match will be played a day earlier.

But in reaction to the development,  FAM president Walter Nyamilandu and Wanderers commercialisation subcommittee chairperson Clement Stambuli  said they expected Sulom to support the national cause by shifting the fixture.

Said Nyamilandu: “The arrangement disrupts national team camping for the return leg against Mozambique as the [Flames] coach needs all the players to prepare well. 

“We expected Sulom to support the national cause, but they are complicating matters by bringing in fixtures when the Flames have a crucial match. 

“Secondly, this idea of back-to-back fixtures is retrogressive. It’s only in Malawi. Players are not machines. Their well-being and fitness is crucial to enhance their performance as athletes.

Its counter productive and retrogressive.”

However, Nyamilandu could not be drawn to comment on the next course of action. 

On the other hand, Wanderers have demanded the release of all their players in Flames camp by 9am on Thursday.

Stambuli said the release of their players for Flames camp was for national cause.

He said: “But since we seem not to be pulling in the same direction, we have demanded the release of our players by Thursday morning so that we concentrate on preparations for the Dedza game.

“Sulom’s response is in contrast to the resolution passed during the standing regulation that if a team contributes three or more players to the national team, it should be exempted from fixtures.”

Sulom president Tiya Somba-Banda said he could not immediately comment on the issue.