Yabwanya mum on Karonga promotion to Super League
Karonga United owner Willy Yabwanya Phiri says he will make a decision on whether Karonga United should participate in the TNM Super League after a hearing of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) election case.
The 2015 Simama Premier League champions Chilumba Barracks have indicated that they will not participate in the Super League due to financial constraints and runners-up Karonga United will replace them in the top-flight league according to Northern Region Football Association (NRFA)chairperson Lameck Khonje.
However, Canada-based Yabwanya Phiri said he will confirm his team’s participation after a disciplinary hearing in which he and two others— Wilkins Mijiga and Tiya Somba Banda—are being charged with taking a football dispute to a conventional court after the trio tried to stop FAM elections through an injunction on December 12.
“I got reports of Chilumba’s failure to participate. As for Karonga’s participation I can’t say much at the moment due to the disciplinary hearing that is pending for me and the other candidates,” Yabwanya Phiri said.
“I will decide on the course of action once FAM clears us. I know there is no case there, but as a formality they have to let Malawians know what’s going on first.”
However, the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) is facing a race against time since Yabwanya Phiri’s hearing is on April 14, just two days before the Super League kicks off.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said the executive committee would meet to discuss the issue.
“Let’s cross the bridge when we reach the river first,” said Banda. “There is no need to panic as of now.”
However, in the past the runners-up have been promoted whenever champions failed to do so.
Escom Reserve twice turned down Southern Region Football League promotion to Super League since their senior side, Escom United, was playing in the league.
