Legal issues, finances threaten Sulom restructuring
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) says financial challenges and legal implications might affect its restructuring drive which aims at transforming it into a commercially viable entity.
Despite the challenges, Sulom president Tiya Somba-Banda yesterday expressed optimism that the plan will be finalised within the stipulated four years.
“We need a stable financial standing first and then we also need to relook at our statutes to be in line with the strategic direction,” he said.
“It’s a process that will stretch over the four-year planning period. Remember our overall objective is to professionalise the league by 2023.”
The reforms, which would include funding the setting up of a fully fledged secretariat complete with a commercial and marketing section, were set to be rolled out in 2016.
According to lawyerDavid Kanyenda, apart from the expenses, Sulom is supposed to amend its statutes to create the chief executive officer’s position and outline its responsibilities.
“From a regulatory and governance perspective, several issues arise. There’s bound to be an overlap between the functions of the CEO and Sulom general secretary and Sulom president,” he said in an interview.
Meanwhile, Somba-Banda said Sulom is determined to push for the reforms believing they could strengthen the clubs financial standing.
However, he called for patience describing the restructuring as a gradual process.
“We will be gradually building pillars and structures to support the strategic objectives fitting the operating environment.
“For instance, let’s borrow a leaf from our FA [Football Association] secretariat on how it has been evolving over the years. It’s a gradual process and not a big bang,” he said.
The Sulom president hoped that the restructuring drive will attain professionalism and commecialisation of the top-flight football league.
Somba-Banda was speaking ahead of the planned Sulom annual general meeting expected to be staged later this month.
It is expected that clubs will discuss plans to introduce e-ticketing and the sale of television broadcasting rights, key components towards maximising revenue generation.
Civo United general secretary Ronald Chiwaula urged Sulom to quickly find means of scaling up the commercialisation drive, saying football will need serious reforms due to Covid-19.
“It is time we find means to sustain football. The game is not going to be the same again as games’ patronage may decrease, thereby affecting our finances,” he said.
