Silver, Nomads’ CAF dream in jeopardy
Silver Strikers, who are the defending Super League champions, want to compete in the CAF Champions League while Mighty Wanderers, who won the Standard Bank Knockout Cup, desire to take part in the CAF Confederations Cup.
However, there could be a stumbling block in the two domestic giants’ ambitions as Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda has said they can only participate upon meeting requirements set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on club licensing system.
Apparently, the clubs are also facing a race against time as registration deadline for the two tournaments is end of this month.
Silver chairperson McDonald Mafuta-Mwale confirmed that the intention to take part in the Champions League tournament is still on.
He also said they are not worried with the time factor because as soon as their sponsor [Reserve Bank of Malawi] gives them the go-ahead, they will register.
Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda said while they might not be financially ready, the intention to participate is still there.
“We know that time is against us, but we will leave no stone unturned,” he said.
All things being equal, Mafco were the ones eligible for the Confederations Cup, having won the Presidential Cup which is the biggest cup on the domestic scene, but Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander General Henry Odillo at the weekend said they would consider their participation in the next tournaments depending on the financial situation and performance, a situation that has paved the way for the Nomads.
“A decision will be made based on such a review, but if it is a complicated financial process then it can be tricky. But let us see how they will perform next season because I cannot lie to you that a commitment can be made for them to take part this year,” Odillo said on Friday.
However, Nyirenda on Sunday said local teams’ participation in CAF tournaments is no longer automatic in the wake of CAF’s move to introduce club licensing.
“Among other things, they will have to prove that they have the financial muscle, they have contracts with players, provide us with their audited accounts and constitutions, failure to meet any of these requirements will create a problem,” said Nyirenda.
But Mafuta-Mwale and Kanyenda argued that FAM should have raised such issues before.
Big Bullets were the last team to take part in a continental tournament when they participated in the Champions League in 2004 and reached the quarter-finals.
