Mittawa set for Sulom top post

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) acting president Colonel Gilbert Mittawa is set for confirmation  as president during Saturday’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Lilongwe as there are no nominations from the clubs.

The position of Sulom president fell vacant last December following the election of Fleetwood Haiya as Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president.

There is also a post of executive member which became vacant following the election of Daud Mtanthiko  as a FAM executive committee member.

In an interview yesterday, Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said: “Sulom never received any nominations this far, as such, the AGM will proceed with the agenda as per Article 40 of the [Sulom] constitution.

“Sulom executive, [therefore], exercised its role by resolving to nominate Colonel Mittawa as president.

“The general assembly, therefore, has the right to ratify the ex-co decision , especially in the absence of any nominations to the contrary.”

On whether a notice was sent to the clubs regarding nominations, he said: “A letter was sent to the affiliates requesting for proposals. AGM notice recognises proposals or questions from affiliates.”

The post of vice-president will also become vacant should the AGM endorse Mittawa as president and Banda said the general assembly will decide accordingly.

On the other hand, Mittawa said he feels that clubs have not nominated any one for the hot seat by design.

 He said: “I would say it is more about the trust in the system that we have put in place  to revive, reform and rebrand the league to which the clubs are also an important ingredient.

“So, my reasoned view is that the teams do not want to break that system which is so far working in the right direction as evidenced by the competitive and attractive season we had in 2023.”

FCB Nyasa Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga and Mighty Mukuru Wanderer board secretary asked for more time to consult on the issue while Silver strikers chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba declined to comment.

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said: “Barring any horse trading that has halted any ambition from other quarters to vie for the positions in question, I would imagine that what has primarily dissuaded anyone from contesting is that the Sulom ex-co has just completed its first year in office and the vice-president has not been tested in the high office in the past two months following the departure of the current FAM President, who left the seat last December which means that automatically time has come for him to be given a chance to show what he can do.

“As for the other seat for ordinary membership, the assembly will easily fill it when it meets.”

A well-placed source said should the meeting approve Mittawa as president, Sulom is planning to propose filling the post of vice-president with current treasurer Allie Mwachande while executive member Akuzike Kafwamba is earmarked to fill his position.