Sulom postpones league decider

The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has postponed the league title decider replay between Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers that was slated for this afternoon at Kalulu Stadium in Nchalo. Sulom president Innocent Bottomani yesterday said the postponement follows Silver Strikers’ move to appeal the league’s recent verdict to ban them for eight months and the K2.95 million fine for the violence that occurred at Balaka Stadium last Saturday.

Apparently, the Nomads have also sought FAM’s intervention on the same grounds.

“Following discussions I had with FAM president [Walter Nyamilandu] pertaining to Silver’s appeal, it was agreed that the game should be put on hold until the issue is looked into,” said Bottomani.

He added: “However, even the FAM president noted that Silver did not exhaust the other channel of appeal, which is the Sulom Appeals Committee which acts independently. In view of that, they will be advised accordingly.

“But I can confirm that the game has been postponed.”

Earlier, Silver general secretary Mike Tembo said while they were willing to have the game replayed, they were not ready to play in Nchalo on security grounds.

“Our officials were harassed by Wanderers fans during the hearing to the extent that they spilled beer on one of our top officials, so how can we trust Sulom to provide security in Nchalo?

“The best is to have the game played somewhere in between Lilongwe and Blantyre other than us passing through Blantyre to play in Nchalo,” said Tembo.

While commending Sulom for cancelling the game, Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda said even if it were on, they would not play.

“We are protesting the decision to have the match replayed on the basis that Silver caused the abandonment, then it would have made no sense for us to play. It would have been the same as accepting the punishments imposed on us,” said Kanyenda.

Wanderers have been banned for five months plus a fine of K700 000.