Only 6 teams register
With less than two weeks before the 2018 TNM Super League roars into life, 10 out of the 16 teams are yet to complete the registration process.
The flagship football league is set to kick off on April 15 but Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary (GS) Williams Banda yesterday said only six teams had registered as of yesterday.
He said the six that have completed the process are Nyasa Big Bullets, Mafco FC, Mzuzu University (Mzuni) FC, Dwangwa United, Kamuzu Barracks and Civil Sporting Club.
Those that have not completed the paperwork are champions Be Forward Wanderers, Silver Strikers, Blue Eagles, Moyale Barracks, Red Lions, Azam Tigers, Masters Security, Nchalo United, Karonga United and TN Stars.
“We are urging the teams to speed up the process so that we avoid last minute pressures,” he said.
The registration process goes with a fee of about K850 000 per club.
However, Nchalo chairperson Peter Chiipanthenga played down the issue yesterday, saying they would finalise the process this week.
He said: “We got a reminder from Sulom on the same last week, but we assured them that we are on course.
“In fact, we paid all the necessary fees and we are just finalising the paperwork.”
His Karonga counterpart Alufeyo Chipanga Banda said they were waiting for Sulom to finalise the process.
“We informed Sulom that we did the needful and in turn, they told us that they would come to collect the documents. So, on our part we did the needful,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Sulom GS has said their only worry in the countdown to the kick-off is the shortage of venues in the Southern Region.
“With Kamuzu and Chilomoni stadiums as well as BAT ground not available, it is a cause for worry,” he said.
Kamuzu Stadium has been closed for over a year now to undergo renovations which include installing a new artificial turf. The turf installation has stalled due to persistent rains while a perimeter wall at Chilomoni Stadium collapsed recently. On the other hand, BAT ground is not in a playable state.
The development comes at a time when Sulom and Football Association of Malawi (FAM) are inspecting possible match venues ahead of the kick-off. n
