FAM to decide Kawinga’s fate
Despite winning the Chipiku Stores Central Region Football Association (CRFA) Premier Division title on Sunday, Kawinga FC’s TNM Super League promotion is at the mercy of Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM).
CRFA acting general secretary Antonio Manda said this on Monday after the league found Kawinga FC, their runners-up St Gabriel Zitha and Ngolowindo FC guilty of match-fixing.
Kawinga thrashed Zitha 4-1 in the decider played at Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe to finish top of the 12-team league with a six-point advantage after accumulating 53 points, 21 of which were awarded to them because of other teams’ failure to fulfil fixtures.
Each team in the league played 22 games.
Said Manda: “As CRFA, we have concluded our league fixtures and the recent match-fixing case.we have come up with a verdict on
“We have done our part and it is now up to our mother body, FAM, to determine whether Kawinga deserves a place in the top-flight league, based on their analysis of circumstances surrounding their title triumph.”
Meanwhile, CRFA has fined Kawinga and Zitha K500 000 each or in default face a 36-month ban from football-related activities if they fail to pay the fine within 14 days for attempting to fix a match between Ngolowindo and Zitha.
On the other hand, Ngolowindo have been given a straight 36-month ban for failing to fulfil a fixture against Zitha FC after receiving money from Kawinga, according to CRFA’s verdict.
Ngolowindo chairperson Ibrahim Omar and general secretary (GS) Idrissa Adam alongside Zitha GS Wellingtone Nzunga and team manager Ringo Kanshulu have also been slapped with a 60-month ban from football activities.
Kawinga chairperson Joe Mwase has also been told not to take part in all football-related activities for 48 months.
FAM competitions and marketing committee chairperson Felister Dossi, who is also the association’s executive committee member, yesterday said once the CRFA notifies them about the conclusion of the league, they will come up with a time-frame on their determination.
She said: “I cannot say when we will come up with the determination as we are yet to receive CRFA’s report as regards their league’s conclusion.
“Once that is done, we will fast-track the process because we are already racing against time to conclude club licensing.”
On Sunday, Kawinga won through Rahim Mtondera’s brace and a goal each from from Lazarus Chirwa and Imran Awali while Kondwani Nyirenda scored Zitha’s consolation goal.
FAM first vice-president Christopher Kuyera, who watched the match, said they will soon conduct a refresher course for football administrators so as to be well versed on how to handle issues related to match-fixing.
Chipiku Stores Central Region manager Dennis Kamnyamata said, as sponsors, they were impressed with how the league has been run.
