FAM snubs Sulom
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has said Football Association of Malawi (FAM) recently turned down almost all the proposals it made through its president Fleetwood Haiya during the association’s recent executive committee meeting.
Addressing delegates during a Sulom Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held virtually yesterday, the Sulom boss said, among others, FAM executive committee turned down a proposal that the association should consider surrendering the 10 percent gate revenue share it gets from Super League matches and the review of the Mpira Television deal.
Said Haiya: “What I am going to give you, is what transpired at the FAM ex-co.
“On Mpira TV, I want to tell members that there is no contractual agreement, there is no legal document to show that we are part of the deal. There was a draft MoU [Memorundum of Understanding], but it wasn’t signed.
“Considering the structure of the Mpira TV, as Sulom we felt going into the second year, we should take another concept since the initial one was at inception level.”
He said he told the meeting that there is no transparency and accountability in the current arrangement and they get a raw deal.
“But the FAM president [Walter Nyamilandu] said if we are not happy, then we should move out,” said Haiya.
He said later on, they had a positive meeting with the FAM president and executive member Fellistas Dossi and the issue is still being looked into.
“The proposal was that we can go into a joint venture where FAM and Sulom can be shareholders. So, until we agree with FAM, we are not party to the Mpira TV deal,” said Haiya.
The Sulom president said FAM also turned down a request to consider increasing the K20 million subvention which they were allocated under the Fifa Forward 3 Programme.
He said: “The plan is to use the funds for staff compensation as we plan to employ three staff members because the moment we employ these three, then we will be able to generate our own funds through commercialisation.
“But again, FAM said they do not have the funds and they suggested that we start by employing only one.”
Haiya also said he asked FAM to consider delegating Sulom to manage the Airtel Top 8 tournament since all the teams involved are from the Super League, “so that they FAM] can concentrate on national cups”.
He said: “[In that vein], we asked for a minimum of 10 percent gate revenue, but again, it was declined. I found this to be inconsistent because regional associations are allowed to run cup tournaments apart from their leagues.”
FAM general secretary (GS) Alfred Gunda, who attended the meeting, was asked to respond on Super League revenue and Mpira TV issues and he said: “Item 4 [10 pecent revenue issue] has been outstanding, but it is constitutional as it has to be revised in FAM Statutes.
“So, basically, I would say it is not an issue than can be deliberated with ex-co, but the general assembly,” he said.
On the Mpira TV issue, he said since it is still being deliberated, they should give dialogue a chance.
The EGM also adopted the amended constitution to redefine the roles of the executive committee, especially those of the GS and treasurer following the move to hire a chief executive officer (CEO) and finance and administration manager on condition that there will be some ongoing further reviews.
Among the amendments in the constitution, a new Article 32 has been introduced to establish the secretariat which will have delegated powers from the executive whereby a CEO will have direct delegated powers from the executive and a finance and administration office has been created within the secretariat with delegated powers from the treasurer.
