The fallout between Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has taken a new twist with the association warning the flagship league runners they risk unspecified sanctions for insubordination and open defiance.
This follows a stand-off over TNM Super League fixtures, which has since been resolved after Sulom initially said it would not reschedule fixtures for teams that have contributed more than three players to the Malawi National Football Team which is in Durban, South Africa for the Cosafa Cup.
In a letter from FAM, dated July 4 2023, signed by its general secretary Alfred Gunda, the association says it has noted “with serious concern tendencies of open defiance and blatant insubordination by Sulom towards instructions to have matches postponed in compliance with its own rules as per Article 49 of Sulom rules”.
Reads the letter in part: “Sulom is henceforth being reminded that as a member of FAM, it has an obligation to adhere to the directives of FAM as stipulated under Article 10 of FAM Statutes.
“In the event of breaching the statutory provisions, FAM has the right to impose sanctions that it may deem necessary to remedy the situation.
“In light of the following, Sulom is hereby being instructed to postpone fixtures of the affected clubs until the Flames return from the Cosafa tournament.”
Barely a day after FAM’s letter, Sulom yesterday issued a press release on the postponement of matches involving Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Silver Strikers who have contributed four players each to the Flames.
The Nomads were scheduled to travel to Dwangwa, Nkhotakota to face Mafco FC while the Central Bankers were supposed to take on Extreme FC on Saturday at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
However, Sulom general secretary Williams Banda says Bullets have decided to fulfil their fixture against Blue Eagles at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday despite contributing four players to the Flames.
But in an interview yesterday, Banda said they did not reschedule the fixtures due to pressure from FAM.
He also said they were not being defiant to FAM.
Banda said: “No, we were not insubordinating, we consulted the teams for smooth implementation as the national coach only released the final squad on Monday night.
“We believe in contact and dialogue.”
Meanwhile, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga yesterday confirmed that they are ready to face Eagles even without their four key players.
He said: “The decision has come from our technical team. Our coach feels that there is nothing that can intimidate us.”
On his part, Nomads coach Mark Harrison said: “It’s good that our game will be rescheduled because we have contributed four key players to the national team, I also have got one player suspended and two injured and that meant travelling to Mafco with 14 outfield players which isn’t ideal.”
