No walkover for Sulom top positions
Unlike the previous election, Super League of Malawi’s (Sulom) top-three positions of president, vice-president and general secretary will not have walkover winners at the February 25 elective assembly in Mangochi.
This comes after organisers of the imminent polls Crowe Horwath Malawi yesterday released a final list of nominees, which indicates that each of the three big positions have two contestants.
Incumbent Sulom president Tiya Somba-Banda will face Nyasa Big Bullets vice-president Fleetwood Haiya while current vice-president Gilbert Mittawa has been challenged by former Mighty Mukuru Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda.
General secretary Williams Banda will have to defend the seat against former Silver Strikers chief executive officer Thokozani Chimbali.
Somba-Banda, who went in unopposed in 2019, eyes a second four-year term as president after previously serving as treasurer.
But he declined to comment on the development yesterday.
“I will comment on this once my manifesto is launched,” he said.
However, some of his notable achievements in his tenure, Somba Banda has managed to enable the revenue generation for clubs through television broadcasting rights sales and successfully negotiated for an improved TNM Super League sponsorship from K90 million to K100 million and prize money from K15 million to K40 million.
On his part, Haiya said he is ready to transform the top-flight league through the development of a sound and achievable strategic plan, which will endeavour to strike a balance between ambition and realities on the ground, within 90 days of office.
He explained that through a vibrant secretariat, Sulom will engage in aggressive marketing to attract sponsorship from both local and international partners.
“My leadership will facilitate an increased club subvention to a minimum of K7 million to ensure that clubs are able to effectively compete in the league.” Haiya said.
The Bullets vice-president explained that the works of his hands have already been manifested through the major role he played to transform Bullets into a viable commercial and competitive entity since he became the club’s finance committee member in 2016.
Haiya added that he will lobby for the increase of gate revenue share among clubs from 25 percent to a minimum of 30 percent.
On the general secretary post, Williams Banda, will face off against Chimbali.
Nevertheless, the current Sulom executive committee member Allie Mwachande and Blue Eagles FC vice-general secretary Solomon Mchawi will go in unopposed as treasurer and legal adviser, respectively.
Mwachande’s road to the purse custody follows the withdrawal from the race of incumbent treasurer Malinda Chinyama.
Howarth audit manager Chifundo Makande yesterday said Kanyenda has also been nominated for the vice-general secretary post alongside incumbent Denis Flao Mwale and Donnex Chilonga.
Nine candidates namely, Charles Manyungwa, Chimwemwe Nyirenda, Henry Banda, Akuzike Kafwamba, Daudi Ntanthiko, William Nhlane, Godfrey Makawano, Mabvuto Missi and Ronald Chiwaula, will battle for the four executive committee member positions.
Said Makande: “Candidates are expected to declare and confirm their participation for the nominated positions by end of business on [Friday] February 17, 2023.”
