Wanderers, Silver whinge over Sulom Appeal’s verdict
Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers are whingeing over the veridict by Super League of Malawi (Sulom) Appeals Committee describing it as unfair and incomplete as they have vowed to appeal to Football Association of Malawi (FAM).
The determination made on Tuesday has seen Sulom appeals committee even hitting harder Silver Strikers, ordering them to fork out K5.2 million, up from previous fine of K2.95 million while Mighty Wanderers’ fine has remained at K700 000 (about $1 750).
Their bans have been upheld but reduced with Silver to forfeit six games points while Wanderers will forfeit four games points.
The two team’s TNM Super League match, which was aborted on December 28 2013 at Balaka Stadium due to violence which killed Lemiyasi Josita, will now has to be replayed by January 26 2014 at an empty Zomba Community Centre when the bans will come in force.
Sulom legal adviser Felix Tambulasi chaired the appeal over two days from January 19, reads the league’s statement. The sitting condemned both teams for failing to control their fans.
Reaction
Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda said the verdict puts Silver Strikers in the wrong so they feel they should have lost the three points in the abandoned game.
The flamboyant Nomad general secretary also said the verdict shows no option of further appeal.
“We are just victims because we still maintain Balaka was not our home ground. All what we know is that we were supposed to play that game indoors at Kamuzu Stadium not what Sulom is saying that we failed to provide adequate security,” said Kanyenda.
In the verdict, Sulom faulted Wanderers of failure to provide adequate security to the visiting team as well as spectators.
“We expected the punishment to be reversed, but it has just been modified. We also expected them to make a statement about compensation of the deceased and the injured fans,” said Kanyenda.
Silver general secretary Mike Tembo described the verdict as unrealistic and quizzed how Sulom will determine games to forfeit as there is no system in place.
“We are obviously unhappy,” said Tembo, pointing out the fine is even more than the previous amount and that the verdict is punishing players “through forfeiture of points in the six games when they shoulder no blame.”
Police faulted
Meanwhile, SULOM’s Appeals’ Committee has faulted the police for acting unprofessional in the abandoned match.
The verdict faulted the Police for deliberately let the supporters from Silver eat up a Wanderers supporter, Amos Raphael, who was dressed in tight regalia in form of a dress.
The beatings were led by the Bankers supporters namely Bruno Makina, Mdala Yusuf, Alick Meja and Austin Phiri.
“The Police later fired teargas while the evacuation gates were closed which caused stampede among the supporters. The Appeals Committee noted that the role of the Police is to control the supporters from unruly behaviour, provide security and safety of the general public as well as protection of gate collections,” reads the verdict.
In its recommendation, the Committee further notes that both teams are habitual offenders emanating from leadership problems and consequently recommend to SULOM that they should conduct workshop for the leaders and any further similar offence shall lead to expulsion from the league.
The committee has also recommended that security personnel should be training in public disorder management and crowd control.
Replay match
Meanwhile, Sulom has fixed the re-play match on Sunday in the old capital city of Malawi, Zomba with recommendations that only journalists will be allowed to watch the match while supporters have been banned.
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