Football feels fuel crisis
The fuel scarcity crisis which has hit the country has not spared football clubs who are required to criss-cross the country to fulfil fixtures.
With most clubs travelling by buses that use diesel, the most scarce fuel right now, fulfilling away fixtures is becoming tricky.
Yesterday, Zomba-based Malawi Defence Force side Red Lions failed to travel to Lilongwe to face Blue Eagles at Nankhaka in TNM Super League.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has since rescheduled the match to this afternoon at the same venue.
A statement from Sulom read: “Blue Eagles vs Red Lions will be played on Sunday 25th September 2022 due to unforeseen circumstances on the part of Red Lions. Any inconveniences is deeply regretted.”
But Blue Eagles took the rescheduling of the match with a pinch of salt, accusing Sulom of not following procedure.
A statement from Eagles read: “The email citing the change came last night, breaching the 48 hour rule in the process.”
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda, who confirmed that the match was rescheduled after Red Lions failed to get fuel to travel to Lilongwe and that they did not breach any rule.
He said: “Force majeure, which allows matches to be rescheduled outside 48 hours, was involved after a due procedure.”
Nyasa Big Bullets also had a share of the struggle of securing fuel to travel to Lilongwe for the FDH Bank Cup semi-final against their rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
The People’s Team bus was parked at a service station in Blantyre for three days since Tuesday, waiting to fill up.
However, Bullets chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda downplayed their experience, saying they already had a plan in place to ensure the team travels to Lilongwe.
There are now fears that more matches will be affected unless the situation improves as the country continues to scramble for the fuel due to shortage of forex.
But Banda, however, said they are keeping fingers crossed that the situation will improve.
He said: “It’s a bit tricky and prior planning is a way to go. Hoping for the better with the tankers that are offloading fuel now across the country.”
