Silver protest league fixtures

Silver Strikers have expressed worry with the TNM Super League fixture released by Super League of Malawi (Sulom) on Sunday, saying it creates room for match-fixing.

The Central Bankers chief executive officer (CEO) Thokozani Chimbali said in an interview yesterday that considering the crucial stage the top-flight league has reached, title contenders are supposed to be at par in terms of games played.

The Reserve Bank of Malawi-sponsored outfit has been allocated two games against Mighty Wanderers this Saturday and Ntopwa FC next Wednesday while their fellow title contenders and league leaders Nyasa Big Bullets will be tied up with their CAF Champions League preliminary engagements.

He said: “It’s a worrisome development. We will play the games, but it’s not making sense to give us two more games when other teams are not playing.

 “It creates room for match-fixing, especially that we are competing for the championship. We are supposed to be on equal footing.

“Of course, we understand [that] ours is an amateur league, but we are supposed to emulate other leagues.”

The Silver CEO also expressed worry that they will play three matches within seven days.

But on his part, Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said: “It’s just about implementing the fixture and they should just fulfil their fixtures.

“The reasons are clear, Silver are not playing in CAF [tournament] and Bullets are not in FDH Bank Cup, unless if they [Silver] want to play league and FDH Bank Cup games concurrently.

“Only games not played are being given.”

Bullets top the 16-team league with 55 points from 26 matches while Silver are second with 52 points from the same number of games.