Players suffer in silence

Football players are owed millions of kwacha in salaries, allowances and game bonuses despite club licensing rules and regulations stating that clubs should have a clean sheet by the end of the season.

In total, some Super League clubs owe their players  about  K15 million.

However, according to Football Players Association (FAP), fear of backlash from their employers is preventing the players from taking action against their clubs.

Out of the 16 TNM Super League clubs, civilian teams such as Nyasa Big Bullets, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, Dedza Dynamos Salima Sugar and Silver Strikers have a clean sheet ahead of the 2023 season.

Players from insitutional teams such as Malawi Defence Force’s  Kamuzu Barracks, Moyale Barracks, Red Lions and Mafco, as well as Malawi Police Service outfit Blue Eagles are also lucky.

But it is a different story for  players from other teams, more especially those without sponsors.

FPA general secretary Ernest Mangani confirmed that players have complained to the association of their predicament.

He explained: “We have not received official complaints, but our members are complaining. Why they do not want to complain officially, is because when they do so, they are taken as rebellious by their teams and they lose game time.

“So, players in Malawi are suffering in silence.” 

Mangani also blamed Football Association of Malawi (FAM) as regulators, for failing to take action against the clubs.

“From the FPA’s point of view, the problem is that FAM continues to be lenient.

“Our interpretation is that FAM is condoning player oppression in this market.

“If they do not then they should go by the book if football is to move an inch in the country.

“Otherwise these stories will continue to grow and a few selfish individuals will have their objectives fulfilled,” he said.

One of the players said he was fed up with talking to the club to pay the outstanding dues.

 “We stayed six good months without being paid. Things are not okay with me and my family, financially. I am just contemplating moving to another club,” he said.

Another player said he has now been offloaded by his club yet it owes him half of last season’s game bonuses as well as signing on fees.

However, Mangani also blamed the players for failing to utilise FPA.

“Players are also to blame to a certain extent. If they do not take advantage of their union then they will continue to be exploited.

“They are fond of coming to the FPA after their contracts have been terminated to seek assistance to collect outstanding dues, yet during the time they were playing for such teams, they should have been bringing their concerns as and when they arose.”

Club licensing system, under financial pillar, aims at ensuring economic and financial capability of clubs so that players are assured of getting paid.

However, four years down the road these objectives are far from being achieved in the TNM Super League.

FAM club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said this year they will be no second chance for clubs that will not fufil the club licencing requirements.

But Karonga United general secretary Ramsy Simwaka said FAM should consider the economic challenges the country is facing.

He said: “FAM should understand that the country is undergoing economic problems.

“The clubs are not spared. Some of us have no sponsors. In these tough economic times, I don’t think there is a club that doesn’t owe its players.”