Nomads banned for night vigil at stadium

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has slapped Be Forward Wanderers with a K2.7 million fine and banned six of the club’s supporters for holding a night vigil at the Kamuzu Stadium on the eve of the Carlsberg Cup final against Masters Security.

Wanderers supporters Gomani Goba, Upile Sapangwa, Lloyd Makondanje, Batumeyo Chimpango, Meke Rabson and Mervin Nkunika spent a night at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre and tampered with the artificial turf on the said night, according to a verdict FAM released yesterday.

The Nomads have since been fined K400 000 for the practice while the supporters have been banned for one year each.

But Wanderers general secretary Mike Butao described the verdict as unfair, saying their supporters were actually beaten by Masters Security who were guarding the stadium that night.

“Our supporters never slept at the stadium. It is Masters Security supporters who slept there and tampered with the turf. You saw the pictures of our supporters who were beaten up by Masters Supporters when they found them there,” he said.

Wanderers security officer Mabvuto ‘Trouble’ Kumsowa has also been fined K800 000 and banned for three years for beating up FAM official Casper Jangale during the match.

The Lali Lubani outfit will also have to pay K500 000 for blocking Masters Security FC team bus from using the Kamuzu Stadium main entrance.

Masters have escaped punishment for pitch invasion following their victory in the final.

“Masters Security FC were not found guilty on the charge of bringing the game of football into disrepute as there was no evidence to show or prove that their supporters invaded the Kamuzu Stadium and tampered with the field of play on the eve of their match against Be Forward Wanderers in the Carlsberg Cup final,” reads the verdict in part.

But Wanderers have also been found guilty of the same counts for their supporters’ action during the Fisd Challenge Cup match against Masters Security on October 23.

The team has been fined K500 000 for again blocking Masters Security FC team bus from using the stadium’s main entrance and K300 000 for using undesignated entry point into the stadium.

The match, which was live on Mibawa Television, was delayed for 50 minutes and the Nomads have been slapped with a K250 000 fine for the delay.

FAM has also banned Civil Sporting Club Civil officials Oscar Kaunda for one year for insulting and bullying match officials during a Fisd Challenge Cup match against Karonga United October 10.

The development means the former Civil Sporting Club coach cannot get a job for the next seven months.