Big Bullets fume at civil
Nyasa Big Bullets have threatened to take legal action against Civil Sporting Club after the Lilongwe-based outfit claimed that some of their players fixed the TNM Super League match against the People’s Team which they lost 6-0 on Sunday at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
The Lilongwe-based giants’ executive committee on Monday summoned the technical panel to explain the team’s poor outing to the Southern Region where they also lost 1-0 to Mighty Tigers.
Civil Sporting general secretary Ronald Chiwaula on Tuesday told a local radio station that the Franco Ndawa-led technical panel had cited match-fixing as the main reason behind the whitewash.
“On Monday, we summoned the technical panel to explain the reasons behind the team’s two losses in the Southern Region. The coaches explained that match-fixing played a role in the 6-0 loss to Bullets. They claimed that they have evidence that some players met Bullets officials. We have since instituted an investigation in the matter to find out if these allegations are true,” he said.
Bullets chief executive officer Fleetwood Haiya said they would seek compensation for reputation damage.
“We have heard from the interview their GS Mr. [Ronald] Chiwaula granted to Zodiak Broadcasting Station. It’s a very serious allegation to our football and we will seek guidance on how this reputation damage can be restored or compensated,” he said.
Haiya pleaded with clubs to avoid putting football into disrepute by making match-fixing allegations without evidence.
“Everyone watched fantastic football on the day and the goals galore was a true reflection of how Bullets performed. This is neither the first nor the last. Expect more goals in future fixtures,” he said.
Bullets, who are second on the log table, have played four games, beating TN Stars 4-1, Ntopwa 4-1 and drew 1-1 with Tigers before the latest thrashing of Civil Sporting.
Meanwhile, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda doubted Civil’s claims.
“Can they provide evidence to that allegation? All cases of match fixing are supposed to be reported to us. Why didn’t they lodge a complaint if they knew about this issue? Anyway, we will wait for the report and evidence,” he said.
