Something must be done on too much emotional outbursts by team officials
In a space of just one week, three big Malawian teams, Mafco FC, Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Be Forward Wanderers were fined heavily for being found guilty in an unsporting behaviour.
In both incidents, this was all about unnecessary emotional outbursts that could have been avoided if team officials and players were level headed in their confrontations.
True, football — or any other sporting discipline — is very emotional and that’s why there are rules and regulations governing each sporting discipline.
Mafco and Nyasa Big Bullets were supposed involved in a fracas over to access to train at the match venue, Chitowe Stadium. It was reported that, as per rules, the away team — in this case Bullets — were supposed to feel the pitch in the afternoon ahead of the Carlsberg Cup quarterfinal game, but it was reported that Mafco refused them to do so.
It is reported that a disagreement ensued in which three Bullets players namely Fischer Kondowe, Aimeble Nayikiza and goalkeeper Chimwemwe Kunkwawa are said to have been beaten by Mafco players — an allegation which Mafco vehemently refuse to confirm whether it took place.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam), after investigating the whole incident, duly punished both teams.
That same weekend, Wanderers got punished for being involved in an unsporting behavior at Balaka Stadium during a Carlsberg Cup quarterfinal match against Prison United.
In its investigation, Fam determined that Prison United supporters, who were sitting behind Wanderers’ technical area, provoked Wanderers officials and in return to the provocation, Wanderers officials led by their security officer Trouble Kumsowa left the technical area, climbed the fence and confronted the Prison United supporters.
It is reported that Wanderers general secretary Mike Butao and vice-treasurer Chulu Mkangama joined the fraces that led to a fight between the two sets of supporters.
Fam determined that much as the actions of Prison United supporters were unacceptable, the situation was exacerbated by the actions of the Wanderers officials resulting into the fight. Two match coordinators were largely available at the venue to resolve the situation but Wanderers officials resorted to use their own means of resolving the situation by going to confront the Prison United supporters.
Though the situation was calmed and that the match proceeded without further unsporting incidents, Wanderers and Prison United were duly fined K300,000 and K150,000 respectively for denting the image of football.
Wanderers officials, being those belonging to a veteran team that is supposed to be exemplary, are reminded of their responsibility to follow procedures by engaging authorities when handling issues of provocations or any other issue at a football match instead of taking the law into their own hands.
These unsporting behaviour is becoming too much of a norm and it’s high time something drastic must be taken to stop this kind of nonsense.
I call it nonsense because this is all about the belief in Juju and nothing else. Team officials and fans always get to each others’ throat on suspicion that other want to apply juju against them.
Does juju really work? If so, how come we don’t win any reputable international title? Why do we indulge in something that never works anyway?
It’s nothing else but the suspicion that the opponent is trying to use juju against them that team officials react so badly that when they do the fans in the terraces are inspired to become violent as well.
If juju works, can’t those who concoct such charms do it for the Flames and the Queens so that we should start winning at the international level?
By the way, isn’t juju some kind of doping? Doping is never allowed in sports and I am sure juju must also be part of performance enhancing substance.
Please, good people, let’s practise fair play and good sportsmanship. Violence should never be part of our game.
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