Kamuzu Barracks boss defiant
Kamuzu Barracks (KB) team manager Francis Nthukwa-Shawa has vowed not to pay K600 000 fine Football Association of Malawi (FAM) imposed on him for “undermining authorities” a fortnight ago.
He has also declared to disregard the season-long ban from all football related activities in the country.
The local football governing body meted out the punishments on Shawa last weekend as a result of Shawa’s outburst during KB’s Carlsberg Cup quarter-final match against Nyasa Big Bullets at Chilomoni Stadium in Blantyre, where he called for the resignation of FAM leadership. He made the sentiment in protest against Bullets’ purported violence at the match.
Bullets has been fined K800 000 for unsporting behaviour after their supporters invaded the pitch at half-time and were found guilty of failing to take precautionary measures to control their supporters from displaying improper conduct by beating up KB official Mabvuto Namwada.
According to the charge sheet from FAM, Shawa undermined the football authorities as stipulated in article 24.15 of the competition’s rules and regulations; attracting a K300 000 fine on the first charge.
He has been fined another K300 000 for making media statements “that brought the name of FAM into disrepute under article 24.16 of Carlsberg Cup rules and regulations”. On top of that, he is not allowed to be involved all soccer activities for the rest of the 2017 season.
But Shawa yesterday argued FAM has punished him without hearing his side of the story and, therefore, he does not recognise or accept its verdict.
“I asked FAM to wait for my lawyer and clearly explain the offences I committed before I could defend myself. But to my surprise, I just heard they have come up with a verdict. This is the injustice that indicates that FAM leadership is rotten to the core and must step down,” he said.
“I will not pay the fine because I will not be cowed by FAM’s conduct. They have personalised everything just to punish me. This FAM leadership must know that it is no longer wanted; let them conduct a referendum and see the results.”
The KB team manager also insisted he will continue taking part in football activities, saying it is only the country’s constitution that can stop him.
“FAM says it is using Carlsberg Cup rules but I don’t think my freedom can be limited by Carlsberg Cup rules. The truth is that Fifa and Carlsberg rules cannot be above the country’s constitution, which I abide by,” he said.
Nevertheless, FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said there are procedures that Shaba must follow to deliver his grievances to the local soccer governing body rather than “making noise in the media.”
Gunda said: “If he feels aggrieved, there are proper procedures to be followed to deliver the grievances to FAM. He is in an organised system of football where everybody has to respect the rules. His situation can be reviewed. It would be unprofessional for me to just be reactive to his statements in the media.
“In my view, he has received the letter and if he has a reaction he has to reply through a letter. He has a right to appeal. In spite of that, football is bigger than anybody. There are set rules and procedures for one to seek redress.”
Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda said while there is need for discipline to be maintained at all times by everyone in the game of football, he believes FAM should avoid applying penalties on “purported transgressors selectively and punishments should not be disproportionate.”
Nyirenda said: “For example, Shawa openly criticised the FAM President [Walter Nyamilandu] after his team’s match against Bullets on radio and the association took the issue up to slap him with a heavy fine and year-long ban.
“But, how many truant officials ever receive such punishments? Why only Shawa? FAM needs to revisit what they have done here and adjust the sanctions to match the offence. In a democracy, leaders must expect to be criticised. Yes, Shawa may be faulted for going over the top but he was within his rights to express himself on how he feels about FAM leadership.”n