Financial hardships hit lower league teams hard

The country’s economic challenges have taken their toll on lower league teams resulting in disbandment of some teams and others either pulling out or  forfeiting points.

In the Master Security Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) League, former TNM Super League side Bvumbwe Research has disbanded because their sponsors can no longer bankroll the club as their personal businesses are not making enough profits to steer the club.

The team’s secretary Majidu Mponda confirmed the disbandment, saying: “We no longer have a team. We notified the SRFA about our challenges which are beyond our control.

“When Bvumbwe Research stopped sponsoring us following government directive for public institutions to quit sports sponsorship, they left us with a vehicle we used to fulfil away games. But after sometime, they took it back and our individual sponsors said they could no longer support us because their businesses are also crumbling.”

According to SRFA vice-general secretary Kingsley Simbeye, SRFA League’s Division One teams Lirangwe Dynamos and Makoka Research also pulled out of the competition at the start of the second-round because they could not raise enough money to fulfil away games.

He said as punishment for pulling out of the league in the middle of the season, Premier Division teams restart their participation in Division One next season while Division One outfits cannot be allowed to compete next year.

Another Division One outfit, Chikwawa Rangers, have since pleaded with the SRFA to freeze their away games until such a time when their financial position regains strength.

The team’s general secretary Christopher Sande told Weekend Nation on Wednesday that they have now resorted to getting permission from Chikwawa District Commissioner Bester Mandele to beg from well-wishers so as to complete their fixtures and their K50 000 league registration fee deficit.

“We rely on financial contributions from club members to survive, but now things have become worse. Only a few members are willing to keep the hub of the team well-oiled. Begging on the streets is our last option; if that fails then we will quit the league,” Sande said.

Chipiku Stores Central Region Football Association (SRFA) League fixtures secretary, Antonio Manda, said Division One outfit Mkoko Stars continues to forfeit points after playing only six of their 32 games so far because they struggle to fulfil away games.

“All our teams, except Mkoko, are fulfilling their fixtures. The forfeiture of points in our fold attracts K50 000 fine per game and the risk of losing participation rights next season. This means Mkoko have to pay K1.3 million for missing 26 games,” he said.

Simama Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) Premier League treasurer, Chauka Mwasinga, said they have so far expelled Euthini United after failing to fulfil three consecutive games due to transportation problems.

“Our constitution stipulates that once a team misses three consecutive games, we are free to expel them and that is what we did to Euthini. Other teams such as Kazuni and Kawaza are also frequently absconding games because of financial challenges. However, they play tricks to avoid expulsion because after absconding two games, they do not miss the third match,” Mwasinga said.

When asked what Football Association of Malawi (FAM) will do to help lower league clubs survive considering that they do not have sound individual sponsorship, cuts from gate revenue and subventions at the start of season as is the case with TNM Super League teams, the body’s president Walter Nyamilandu said it is not necessarily their duty to find sponsors for clubs.

Nyamilandu said FAM’s role is to promote and market the game; making it attractive to sponsors. He said this can also be achieved through sound administration of competitions, where matches are not only competitive, but also entertaining.

“The clubs should also take the initiative to commercialise their institutions based on viable business models when being established. Community-based teams have proved to be successful elsewhere, wherein clubs are able to garner local support-base for commercial value,”  he said.

“FAM does not have a kitty to hand out to clubs. Our primary objective is to develop talented players for the clubs.”

Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda concurred with Nyamilandu that the clubs should move with the times by being innovative and creative through various initiatives that can benefit both the clubs and the sponsors.

Nyirenda said: “Here and there, new sponsors are emerging to use football to market their products. A good example is Foundation For Irrigation and Sustainable Development [Fisd], who are sponsoring a national competition.

“Clubs need not to regard sponsorship as manna from heaven, but a form of partnership, whereby their is mutual benefit to both parties. Otherwise, Malawi football will be doomed forever.”

Meanwhile, Nyamilandu said starting from next season, FAM will be very strict when accrediting clubs by making sure only those that are financially-stable take part in all leagues to avoid a repeat of “this embarrassing situation.”

“The reason FAM has introduced club licensing is to ensure that the clubs are run like professional entities. We are warning the clubs that the screening process will be very thorough and there would not be any compromises. Promotion to the Super League will not necessarily guarantee participation in the league unless these requirements are met,” he said.

Marketing and economic expert Wilkins Mijiga said times are hard economically and the only option for football teams is to grow a thick skin to survive. He said, currently, most businesses are squeezed for cash and owners look at the essentials and the basics for their entities to exist.

“However, it is a very difficult balancing act. One can only hope that things will improve soon,” he said.