Bullets infighting resurfaces
Big Bullets FC board of trustees chairperson James Busile has asked the club’s chairperson Sam Chilunga to exercise caution when handling sensitive issues.
The caution comes days after Chilunga threatened to ‘deal’ with some officials who are frustrating his efforts to improve the team.
Addressing supporters at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre last Thursday amid reports of a widening rift within the team’s leadership, Chilunga said: “There are about three people who want to bring confusion by frustrating my efforts. I have been patient with them for almost a year now, but that patience has worn thin.
“Ngati muli ndi mtima wosokoneza team ndithana nanu (if you intend to create confusion in the team, I will deal with you).”
But Busile on Monday said Chilunga’s remarks have the potential to fuel tension.
“I think if the chairman had issues, that was not the right forum and procedure to tackle them.
“He should have called his executive committee or he would have sought our intervention instead of taking them up with supporters,” said Busile.
He said the board will summon Chilunga on the matter.
During the meeting, Chilunga claimed that some people within the club’s set up questioned his decision to buy new players such as Emmanuel Zoya and Amadu Makawa.
“These are the same people who questioned my decision to offer the players 60 percent of the TNM Super League prize money. They [also] questioned the raising of players’ salaries and offering them contracts.
“Nkhani ina inandinyasa kwambiri ndi ya [coach] Franco Ndawa. We agreed at a meeting to employ him but they told a newspaper that they were not aware,” Chilunga said.
Bullets vice-chairperson Sadiki Malinga, general secretary Titha Mandiza, treasurer Noel Lipipa and his vice-treasurer Alex Gondwe were some of the executive committee members who raised concerns against the manner in which Ndawa was hired.
The quartet is reported to have eased down a gear regarding their involvement in the club’s operations and according to a well-placed source, they did not take part in last weekend’s friendly match against Dynamos from Zimbabwe.
Mandiza refused to comment when she was contacted yesterday, saying: “There’s a lot happening internally and I would rather not say anything to avoid being misunderstood.” n
