Mixed bag for Sulom

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) leadership has failed to honour most of its promises during its four-year tenure of office which ends in four months time.

Among others, Sulom leadership  has failed to implement  sourcing a package for Malawi’s representatives in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League, establishing a fully-fledged secretariat complete with a chief executive officer and an accountant.

With barely four months left, Sulom is also yet to introduce e-ticketing, campaigning for improved gate revenue shares for clubs, refurbishing MDC Stadium to help clubs have reduced cuts from gate revenue and creating and harnessing a conducive environment for commercialisation of clubs.

In his 2019 manifesto, titled Leading Football Business, Sulom president Tiya Somba Banda stated that sourcing an annual package for the continental tournament’s ambassadors, would inspire more clubs to take part in the CAF Champions League tournament.

The manifesto reads in part: “Participating in CAF is paramount to improving both football standards and commercial viability of the clubs. The international competition not only presents an opportunity to compete against the best on the continent, but also exposes the clubs’ sponsors and partners to a wider market beyond Malawi and Africa.”

On commercialisation, Banda states: “During this term, we will focus on creating and harnessing a conducive operating environment for commercialisation of clubs. We have noted that our league cannot graduate from amateur to professional if the clubs do not have financial muscle.”

Contacted for his comment during the week , the Sulom president asked for more time.

But it was not all doom-and-gloom as there have been some notable achievements such as  boosting revenue generation for clubs through television broadcasting rights sales and successfully negotiating for an improved TNM Super League sponsorship from K90 million to K100 million, which led to the champions prize money being hiked from K15 million to K40 million.

Sulom leadership also secured sponsorship from Ana A M’mudzi for outstanding players and of the season.

Some clubs feel that the flagship league runners could have done better to be in line with Somba Banda’s manifesto by the time their tenure comes to an end next March.

Nyasa Big Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga and Karonga United general secretary Ramzy Simwaka said it is difficult to attach tangible achievements to the manifesto.

Chigoga said: “For instance, it is undeniable  that Bullets has never received any financial support from Sulom for CAF participation during the current Sulom executive committee’s tenure of office.

“Sulom was also supposed to have a constitutional amendment to necessitate the hiring of the CEO and an accountant, but that did not happen.

“E-ticketing also remains our usual song. It has not been there as far as we are concerned, except workshops to discuss the same.”

He said the improvement of revenue shares for the clubs is another rhetoric because clubs make their effort to improve the gate takings by vigorously promoting their home games.

“Management of the broadcasting rights is not appealing as it is embroidered in a lot of questionable issues in terms of sharing model. In summary, one would question whether there was insufficient time or lack of pragmatism to act on the manifesto decisively,” Chigoga said.

On his part, Simwaka said  there is nothing to smile about in as far as the current Sulom administration is concerned.

“All I can say is that there has been nothing to satisfy us the clubs. We are moving backwards. We continue to sing the old song yet Sulom has a vibrant blueprint that could turn our fortunes around had it been implemented,” he said.

However, Silver Strikers board chairperson George Kaudza Masina and Civil Service United general secretary Ronald Chiwaula gave the Somba Banda leadership a benefit of yjr doubt.

Kaudza Masina explained that Sulom was affected by a number of challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic which caused economic problems and stalled football activities for over a year.

“Looking at the key take-homes in the manifesto, there isn’t much to show as a success. What a lot of stakeholders were looking for did not come to pass,” he said.

“But a critical analysis on the Somba Banda’s manifesto shows the determination he had as regards to fulfilment. I feel the manifesto could have been fulfilled had Covid-19 not raked havoc. It has to be appreciated that for two seasons, Covid-19 destroyed our game and left us at a loss.”

Despite all this, Kaudza Masina said new ways of game revenue, a departure from the traditional gate collections, were introduced, thereby, helping the clubs to go with something tangible to the bank.

He added that although e-ticketing has eluded Sulom, they are not to blame as they do not own the stadia.

“Under the circumstances, Sulom executive has performed well, but they could have done better on fixtures and handling of disputes which seemed to favour selected teams. For Somba Banda in particular, he deserves another go as to accomplish his ‘Leading Football Business’ manifesto,”  said Kaudza Masina.

On his part, Chiwaula said: “Basically, the Sulom executive has tried though some targets haven’t been met. We believe giving them more time and support, they can do better. Remember, we had Covid-19 and this played a very negative impact as far as football development is concerned.”