Tony Chitsulo gets temporary relief

TNM Super League champions Silver Strikers have handed former Malawi junior national team gem Tony Chitsulo temporary relief in giving his new employers Mighty Wanderers the nod to feature him.

Silver lawyer Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda wrote to the Nomads on November 26 2013 advising them to feature the attacking midfielder irrespective of the on-going civil proceedings against Wanderers. The case involves a dishonored K1.95 million (about $4 875) cheque which was referred to the drawer.

Wanderers blamed Silver for rushing to the bank without the Nomads’ green light.

“Be advised that our interest is in the money and not in having Mr. Chitsulo prevented from playing. The same view was verbally communicated to Sulom. We understand that Mr. Chitsulo has featured in some Mighty Wanderers games and our expectation is that he shall still be featured in the games since Sulom already cleared him to play for Mighty Wanderers,” Nyirenda wrote to his Wanderers opposite number David Kanyenda who also doubles as general secretary.

Silver chairperson Dr. McDonald Mafuta Mwale on Wednesday said he was unaware of the letter to Wanderers, adding that their lawyer “might have some reasons for doing that but we cannot say that is the end of the story.”

Kanyenda yesterday said Silver’s green light ‘came too little and too late’ as the player stopped training due to frustrations.

“But he is young. We will rehabilitate him for next season. It is unfortunate that Silver came to their senses too late,” said Kanyenda whose team is placed sixth on 42 points with two games to wind up the league.

Last month, FAM ordered Silver to withdraw from court their case after the High Court in Lilongwe ruled that the money should be deducted from the Nomads’ K8 million Standard Bank Knockout championship prize money.

Wanderers got their full prize money, a development which Nyirenda on Wednesday blamed it on FAM for writing the prize money cheque in Wanderers Clubhouse name and not in Wanderers Football Club’s name.

“The issue of Tony featuring or not and dishonored bill of exchange are different. We know the tricks Wanderers did. There are people in FAM who are Wanderers sympathizers but Wanderers will not go away with impunity. That time is over; some people might find themselves in contempt of court,” Nyirenda warned.