Long way to go!
Silver Strikers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have ruled out the possibility of taking part in the 2024/25 Confederation of African Football (CAF) club tournaments, saying they first need to improve to get to the standards expected on the continental stage.
This comes after Football Association of Malawi (FAM) said the Central Bankers and the Nomads have an opportunity to take part in one of the tournaments depending on which competition quadruple winners FCB Nyasa Bullets will choose between the Champions League and the Confederations Cup.
The association’s club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said Silver and Wanderers can compete by virtue of finishing second and third, respectively in the TNM Super League last season.
He said: “By virtue of winning both the league and the major national cup [Ibongetse Castle Challenge Cup], Bullets will choose which tournament to join between the Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
“Depending on Bullets’ choice, Silver will be offered the slot for the other tournament, but in the event that they are not ready, the offer will extend to the team that finished third, in this case Wanderers.”
But in separate interviews yesterday, Silver chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba and Wanderers president Thomson Mpinganjira said they do not deserve to take part based on their performance last season.
Said Chimimba: “Silver Strikers will not take part in any CAF tournament this year. We need to have a right squad to compete and not just participate.
“The CAF engagements require a lot of resources and we would be doing ourselves, supporters and sponsors a great injustice if we only enter a CAF tournament just to get on a plane.”
On his part, Mpinganjira, who is also the Nomads board chairperson and major shareholder, said: “Participation in such elite tournaments need to be earned by winning silverware and based on our performance last season. I don’t think we deserve to take part.
“So, while the wish and resources might be there, let the boys prove that they deserve to compete with the elite. Suffice to say the issue will be discussed by the board.”
The development means that Bullets are once again likely to be the only team to take part in a continental club tournament.
On the tournament they are most likely to join, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “We will make a stand at an appropriate time.”
Last year, Bullets also had the chance to choose the continental competition to join after winning the league and the Pachema FDH Bank Cup which was then the major national cup.
They settled for the Champions League
