Sulom adamant
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has snubbed calls by Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) to consider shifting Saturday’s TNM Super League match between Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers.
The fixture clashes with the 2019 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final round qualifier between Malawi and South Africa slated for Bingu National Stadium also in the capital city at the same time within a kilometre.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) acting competitions manager Casper Jangale yesterday said they have since given up on their efforts to persuade their affiliate to shift the Super League match.
“We have tried all we can, but they [Sulom] have stuck to their guns and there is nothing more we can do.
“We will just mobilise fans through the media and other channels to go and support our boys,” said Jangale.
On the other hand, Sports Council board chairperson James Chuma yesterday said they would instruct Sulom to cancel the game for the sake of a national cause.
“This is a national cause and we should all come together to ensure we rally behind the under-20 national team. We just need to beat South Africa to qualify for the Niger final. I will meet FAM and Sulom officials today [yesterday] so that the Super League match between Silver and Bullets should be rescheduled,” he said.
But Sulom GS Williams Banda yesterday said they would not budge.
He said: “I believe Sulom has been changing fixtures for a long time. We need to do away with inefficiencies and be law-adhering.
“ Respect given to international organisations [fixtures] should be extended to our operations. Let’s just prepare for the game technically and improve on planning for the future. Sulom wishes the Under-20 national football team all the best.”
Soccer analyst George Chiusiwa said both FAM and Sulom were to blame for failing to introduce a harmonised football calendar.
He said: “FAM and Sulom should stop these senseless fights and serve the public’s interest. I thought the two bodies always preach about harmonising the football calendar?
“It’s about time our football calendar was genuinely harmonised for smooth-running of our game.
“The Under-20 national team needs our support most at this stage when they are only one leg to the ‘promised land’. The boys need a huge patronage to rally behind them so that they scorch Amajita.”
