Karonga United in financial crisis
Super League side, Karonga United Football Club, have conceded it is not sustainable to rely on well-wishers for sponsorship of the club, saying as it is now, they need MK5 million to fulfill their remaining fixtures.
The Ingwinas are currently in the relegation zone on position 15 of the 16- member league with 18 points. Eight games remain for them to wind up the season.
Chairperson of the club, Alufeyo Chipanga, conceded it is becoming difficult for the Ingwinas to rely on well-wishers to fulfill their TNM Super League fixtures.
He called on corporate institutions in the country to assist the football club with funds so that it is able to fulfill its remaining fixtures.
“The Karonga community have been great in supporting their home club because we would not be here fighting to survive relegation. However, we need other stakeholders to come in and assist us to finish the season,” he said.
Chipanga said if they are unable to find resources then the club will have to forfeit its matches. If that happens, he said it would be a tragedy to the club as well as the funds.
“If we forfeit our matches, heavy repercussions will come our way as we will be forced to pay a fine of MK5 million to Super League of Malawi (SULOM) for not honouring our games. For us that would be devastating, so we are in a tricky situation,” he lamented.
The Karonga United FC chairperson added that the club’s financial situation has posed a serious challenge to its strength and efforts to establish itself in the elite league.
Meanwhile, Karonga United coach, Kondwani Mwalweni, has also attributed their struggles in the Super League to lack of financial incentives and motivation for the players.
He said due to lack of sponsorship, most of his players have resorted to playing in the lucrative Cow League across the border in Tanzania where a sponsor bets a cow or a bull for a match.
“It’s not healthy to play three matches in a week but it’s what some of these boys are doing. So when they come to play for us, most of them are already fatigued, hence their failure to perform to their potential with Karonga United,” he lamented.
Karonga United play title contenders Blue Eagles on Sunday, the 30th of October at Mzuzu Stadium.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :