Four Super League teams, among them Bullets FC and Mighty Be Forward Wanderers, have been fined K100,000 each while rookies Mzuni FC have been charged K300,000 for pitch invasion by their supporters contrary to Super League of Malawi rules and regulations.
Pitch invasion in celebrations
The other teams are Silver Strikers and Dedza Young Soccer.
By invading the pitch, the clubs’s supporters contravened Article 21(16) as read with Article 21(2) of SULOM rules and regulations, according to SULOM Treasurer, Tiya Nsomba Banda.
Bullets faced the offence when some of their followers invaded the pitch following their 2-1 victory over Lilongwe based side, Civo FC, while their city rivals Wanderers’ unidentified support invaded the pitch during the half time of their match against Silver at Kamuzu stadium.
Silver supporters invaded the pitch to celebrate the Bankers’ 2-0 win over Wanderers. Likewise, Mzuni’s and Dedza Young Soccer followers invaded their pitch at the end of their matches against Red Lions and Kamuzu Barracks, respectively.
“Please be reminded that your club is responsible for the actions of your supporters and that you are required to take all the necessary precautions to prevent your supporters invading the pitch before, during, and after the match,” said Banda.
Banda said pitch invasion by Mzuni supporters also threatened the security of the match officials, hence the K300,000 fine.
Bullets playerss celebrating unbeaten run and title charge - Photo-Jeromy-Kadewere[/caption]
A letter from Sulom dated August 19 gave Bullets 72 hours to respond to the charge.
“Reference is made to the complaint we received from Mzuni FC on your actions upon the intent to transfer of Niyikiza Aimable to Big Bullets football club. It is been alleged that the player has been training with Big Bullets without the permission of Mzuni FC up to the extent that you used the player during, the weekend of 7th and 8th August,” the letter signed by Sulom acting CEO Tiya Somba Banda reads in part.
Sulom reminded Bullets that their action is contrary to Article 13.1.4 Super League of Malawi Constitution as read with Article 4.1 of the Football Association of Malawi Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
The top flight league body have also charged the player for training with Bullets without the permission of his club and playing for the Bullets at the Inter City Charity Trophy.
Bullets and the player had not yet responded to the charge.
But Bullets deputy general secretary Kelvin Moyo earlier said the player in mention was a free agent after he had no contract with Mzuni FC.
Moyo also said the player resigned from Mzuni FC.
On the pitch, Bullets continue to delight and maintain unbeaten run in all competitions; off it they are controversial.
Suleman: Brains behind Mpira Sacco idea[/caption]
Super League of Malawi Treasurer Tiya Somba Banda said the league runners would hold sensitization meetings in Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe, Salima and Mzuzu targeting 15 Super League clubs on the establishment of Mpira SACCO.
“For Mpira SACCO to become fully registered and licensed by MUSCCO and the Reserve Bank of Malawi, there are a number of key steps that have to be taken to ensure that all requirements, both operational and legal, have been met,” Tiya Somba said in a statement.
“One of these requirements is the need for all prospective members to have a full understanding of the business and nature of a SACCO. It is in the light of this requirement that MUSSCO in conjunction with SULOM have organized the following sensitization meetings with football clubs that participate in the TNM Super League.”
He said the formation of the Mpira SACCO sits at the center of the drive part of the strategic objective of commercializing and professionalization of the elite football league in Malawi.
“Mpira SACCO shall seek to reduce the financial inclusive gap around our football players at the same time allowing them access to financial tools that will enable them to save part of their money and access credit facilities,” he said.
All SACCOs in Malawi fall within regulatory and legal frameworks, which require certain basic requirements to be met before registration of the SACCO.
SULOM has been engaging MUSCCO in the past months to fully appreciate the requirements and to position itself accordingly for the undertaking.
“As SULOM, our desire is to improve the status and welfare of our football player. This cannot be attained if access to financial services is still prohibitive and at times very unfavourable to our players. Mpira SACCO will be the perfect last piece in the puzzle.”
One of the requirements for the SACCO to be established is it must secure a minimum of 500 members.
SULOM has said with all the teams expected to be members it will be short of just 50 members to achieve 500.
The shortfall will be met by extending the membership to lower league teams across the country.
The idea to have Mpira SACCO was hatched by Sulom Vice-President Daud Suleman as one way of improving the welfare of players
Swam President Peter Kanjere showing the code of conduct booklet[/caption]
Swam has aligned the code with that of its world mother governing body, the International Sports Press Association (Aips) based in Switzerland.
Swam president Peter Kanjere launched the code of conduct booklet on Friday during a day-long workshop which the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) funded at Crown Hotel, Lilongwe.
Sulom legal adviser, Gilbert Mittawa, opened the workshop which also featured Fifa referees instructor Verson Lwanja drilling the reporters on the Laws of the Game.
Mittawa called on the sports media practitioners to be responsible and sensitive when covering matches especially through live match commentaries.
Veteran football commentator Steve Liwewe Banda also echoed Mittawa's sentiments saying commentators need to exercise common sense and research before going on air.
Swam boar chairperson Gracian Tukula encouraged the association to walk the talk in enforcing the code lest it becomes a talk show.
The 10-paged document gives sports reporters guidelines on Statutory Duty, The Public Interest, Ethical Conduct, Professional Conduct, Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality, Professional Development, Advertising, Trust, Errors, False Informational and Law.
"The code of conduct reflects the ethos and culture and the spirit of the law governing it. It identifies the key principles and values that should guide day-to-day practices and emphasises the core values that are to be honoured"
Sulom chair Botomani: Vhanges in gate taking[/caption]
The clubs will be receiving their shares through bank deposits, the Super League of Malawi (SULOM) has announced.
SULOM President Innocent Botomani has said that the decision was reached out after a wide consultation although certain quarters seem not to be comfortable with the arrangement.
The issue was brought to light last month during a club licensing seminar organized by the country’s football governing body, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) in Blantyre.
The arrangement will not affect those detailed to perform security, first aid and officiating duties, as along with ground owners they will continue getting their dues after the counting of the collection is done, per their respective allocations or percentages.
It is in a way aimed at enhancing accountability in the gate collection to individual teams as there are times when money has grown wings after the teams have been given their allocation but before the cash is accounted for to the teams.
“Change is always received with mixed feelings as such we cannot expect every person to be in total agreement with the arrangement but all in all, from this weekend we are rolling out the procedure and teams have just to practice patience, after all it is for their own good,” said Botomani.
The second round of the league kicks off today with a re-launch taking place in Dwangwa where defending league and first round champions Big B ullets takes on Mafco, the hosts.
In other games FISD Wizards play host to Civo United while KB hosts Azam Tigers. Tomorrow Wanderers hosts Civo, Mzuni-Slver Strikers, Blue Eagles- Airborne Rangers, while the sensational Dedza hosts Red Lions.
The league is sponsored to the tune of MK90million by Malawi's premier mobile network, TNM Limited.
Red-packed Kamuzu stadium -.Photo Jeromy Kadewere[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_95524" align="alignright" width="600"]
The Nomads stand was full to capacity....Photo Jeromy Kadewere[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_95523" align="alignright" width="600"]
The stadium was packed to capacity, here is Bullets stand[/caption]
The Peoples team silenced the Nomads 1-0 courtesy of Jaffali Chande’s second half goal to increase their chances of defending the title.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda disclosed that the match grossed K16 million despite a massive turnout at the stadium that was fully packed even to some of the cordoned stands.
Each club pocketed K3 million, while Football Association of Malawi and Sulom went home with K1.2 million.
However, Banda said they have instituted an investigation into the matter because they feel something is fishy.
The first round match involving the two teams at Kamuzu Stadium grossed almost K27 million, while the Carlsberg Cup Finals in Lilongwe at Civo Stadium collected K29 million.
Banda told local Newspaper that whoever is going to be found wrong will have to face the consequences.
He said Sulom will involve the police and that the law will take its course.
Joka investiments was responsible in manning the gates.
The two clubs have cried foul over the gate collections and they demand for proper investigations.
William Banda: Sulom mediates Wanderers standoff[/caption]
After Wanderers against Blue Eagles game last week, a certain section of supporters fired the current executive committee only maintaining Mike Butao as the general secretary.
However, Sulom intervened to mediate the two camps to sort out their wrangles.
In a letter dated 24 November 2015, signed by Sulom general secretary Williams Banda reads: “We write to advise that following the meeting between Super League of Malawi and Be Forward Wanderers on the impasse that was there the following has been agreed: That the incumbent executive committee led by Mr. George Chamangwana complete their tenure of office.”
Banda said they have also agreed that the Be Forward Wanderers Trustees call for an Elective Annual General Meeting at the end of the 2015 TNM Super League Season.
“That current committee should prepare and present reports at the AGM. Audited accounts and a copy of their statutes should be submitted to SULOM. SULOM to preside over the elections,” said Banda.
This season the Nomads won the Carlsberg Cup after clipping Big Bullets 2-1 before reaching the Standard Bank Cup finals where they lost 1-0 to Civo United.
However, in the league things are all not rosy for the Nomads as they occupy seventh position.
Dedza players were denied dressing room[/caption]
This follows some unsporting behaviour that happened during a decisive do or die encounter between the two sides on 19th December, 2015 at the Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
Epac FC supporters blocked Dedza Young Soccer players and officials from using the dressing room.
Sulom Disciplinary Commitee at a meeting convened on 31st December, 2015 at the Lilongwe Hotel found Epac guilty of two charges.
The first charge was failing to control the actions of its supporters who blocked the entrance in the dressing room therefore preventing players and officials from entering the dressing.
This attracted a fine of K450,000.00.
The other charge was bringing the game of football into disrepute contrary to article 14 of the Sulom Constitution with article 21 (16) of Sulom Rules and Regulations which attracted a fine of K350,000.00.
Thus means that Epac need to pay a total of K800,000.00 before its next league or cup game.
Thorough investigations by Sulom disciplinary committee and police report, Dedza Young Soccer were not involved in blocking the entrance of the dressing room but they have been fined K500,000.00 for bringing the game of football into disrepute.
Sulom observed that there was security lapse in dressing room corridor despite hiring 50 Police Officers hence a need to organize a security sensitization workshop before the start of next season.