Malawi clubs fault Silver boss
Super League clubs have faulted Silver Strikers chairman McDonald Mafuta Mwale for suggesting that the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) executive should resign following the league’s decision to punish the bankers and Mighty Wanderers for perpetrating violence in Balaka.
Sulom’s disciplinary committee last week slapped Silver and Wanderers with separate punishments for causing violence at Balaka ground, where a Wanderers’ fan was killed.
Silver were banned from playing in the Super League for eight months and ordered to pay a K2.95 million fine with their Wanderers counterparts banned for five months and asked to pay a K700,000 fine.
The move by the league’s disciplinary committee did not go down well with the Silver camp, especially the chairman, who has been calling for the resignation of the Sulom executive.
Mwale’s sentiments were echoed by Wanderers’ outspoken general secretary David Kanyenda.
However, various officials from Super League clubs interviewed by Nyasa Times and the local media have distanced themselves from Mwale’s remarks.
The officials are accusing Mwale of speaking out of emotions and failing to admit that his side was in the wrong.
“I have been following the developments with keen interest and what I have observed is that Dr Mwale is too emotional. We have information that Silver hired a bus for their supporters to travel to Balaka and these are the same fans, who perpetrated the violence.
“If I were the Silver chairman, I would have first admitted that my supporters were in the wrong then lodge a formal appeal to Sulom’s appeals committee for a less stiffer punishment,” said a Moyale Barracks official, who asked for anonymity for being an interested party to the case.
The Moyale official also wondered why Silver are spending resources by offering a club lawyer to defend the two suspects apprehended by police during the December 28 fracas.
Epac FC general secretary Abramo Mdechi also distanced his club from the resignation calls during an interview with a local radio station.
“We are not for the idea. A life was lost in Balaka and the two clubs (Silver and Wanderers) must accept responsibility and apologise to the nation. They should not take a defensive approach and expect a small
punishment.
“If they are not in agreement with the punishment, let them appeal other than calling for the resignation of the Sulom executive,” said Mdechi.
Big Bullets’ general secretary Higger Mkandawire also said his club does not share the idea that Sulom should resign.
A Civo United official, who also did not want to be named said Mwale should be the one resigning.
“Mwale is the one who should resign because he hired a bus for supporters without sensitizing the fans on
the need to desist from violence hence costing the club of the championship. He is also holding his office illegally because the constitution of Silver Strikers barred him from standing for a third term,” charged the Civo official.
