20 Blue Eagles players offered contracts

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has commended Blue Eagles following the team’s move to offer formal contracts to its players as the club attempts to go professional in the wake of club licensing system.

The Nankhaka-based outfit has become the first institutional club to enter into contracts with its players.

FAM club licensing manager Casper Jangale described the development as “a way to go” for other clubs in the country’s top flight.

“Blue Eagles have shown a positive character of football professionalism. We have been crying for this for a long time because it is a solution to all controversies over player transfers and to be clear on the players’ salaries and how to take care of them when they get injured,” said Jangale.

Blue Eagles used to employ players as civil servants in the Malawi Police Service, but the recent development means the players will be professional footballers for the club.

The club’s general manager Gabriel Chirwa said they want to set an example on the country’s football scene.

Chirwa said: “We want to handle our players in a professional manner because they are professionals. All players that will represent Blue Eagles in the next Super League campaign will have a documented contract with the club. So far, 20 players have already signed their contracts and we are looking to expand our squad with new faces.

The signing of football contracts comes after Blue Eagles unconditionally released John Banda and Schumacher Kuwali to join Mozambican side Ferroviario de Nampula because they were not bound by a contract.

Meanwhile, Jangale revealed that Army teams have also shown willingness to grace the club licensing arrangements with proper contract documentations.

Formal contract filing is among the minimum standards that Fifa has set for all clubs playing in the top flight leagues.