Nomads cry foul over fixtures
TNM Super League hot contenders Mighty Wanderers have threatened not to fulfil their remaining games if Sulom does not review this weekend’s fixture in which they are on bye.
The Nomads argue that Sulom has deliberately put them on bye to put them under unnecessary pressure. They say it should have been teams that have played more games that should not have been given games this weekend.
However, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda countered that according to the logistics, it was difficult to allocate the Nomads a game this weekend.
Nomads general secretary David Kanyenda insisted that unless the fixture is revised, they are not going to fulfil their remaining matches; hence Sulom might as well forward the title to their preferred team.
“There are just a few games to go and it creates pressure when you do not play because you already know the results of your competitors. In fact, we should have been playing at the same time.
“We are masquerading as title contenders when we have been put out of the title equation,” said Kanyenda.
He also hinted on the prospect of lodging a complaint to FAM and taking up their concerns with the sponsor of the league.
On his part, Nomads chairperson George Chamangwana said what is happening is tantamount to match-fixing.
“We have played a game less compared to [leaders] Mafco and yet Sulom has allocated Mafco another game and put us on bye. It does not make sense,” he said.
But the Sulom GS pleaded with the Nomads to understand the rationale of them being not included in the fixtures.
“The thing is every team has its week of resting, even Red Lions are on bye. We tried to play around with the fixture to see if we could allocate them [Wanderers] a game, but it was difficult,” said Banda.
“While we appreciate their [Wanderers] concerns, they should hold their breath and understand the situation that all the other teams that they are supposed to meet, are preoccupied and that is why they will play two games next weekend,” he said.
But Kanyenda insisted that Sulom has a hidden motive, arguing: “Even for the games that we are supposed to play in Lilongwe, we requested that we should travel there twice [at our own expense] because our players are tired having played over 30 games in all competitions so far this season, but Sulom refused.”
Wanderers are on fourth position with 41 points just like second-placed Silver Strikers and third-placed Red Lions, but the Silver and Lions have a better goal difference. Mafco top the chart with 42 points from 25 games. Silver and Wanderers have both played 24 games while Lions have played 25.
Am not a wanderers supporter but the team’s complaint is a valid one, i wonder how SULOM organize these fixtures anyway. At this point of the league where the contention for the title is hot, there is no need for a team to play 2 more games than there title contenders. they have to look into this surely.
Bullets is coming to LL to play Silver only yet when Silver went to BT in the first round played Evirom or BT united then the following day met BB, why this time around BB will only play Silver? Noma complaint is genuine but revising fixture will look as a favor to Nomads since Silver complained about their fixture two weeks ago but nothing changed as they played CIVO and MAFCO on saturday and Sunday respectively, just like what Noma will do when they visit LL next week they will play CIVO and EPAC. I am also alittle bit confused here last year when SILVER trailing on number of games played many described SULOM as favoring Silver up to the extend that Silver was called SULOM Strikers here Noma is complaining of not been given games despite having game in hand with league leaders MAFCO. SULOM HAS FAILED US RANGING FROM TRANSFERS TO FIXTURES.