Clubs cry foul over Airtel Top 8 prize money

Airtel Top 8 champions Blue Eagles and runners-up Nyasa Big Bullets say they are yet to receive their prize money, a development the two clubs have described as a breach of the competition’s rules and regulations.

Eagles are expected to receive K12 million while Bullets will get K5 million and, according to Article 7.3 of the competition’s rules and regulations, this was supposed to happen within 14 days after the final.

But the clubs claim that Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has not given an explanation for the delay.

“When we tried to check with them [FAM] two weeks ago, we were told to wait. We checked with them last week all we got were more promises that the money would be deposited into our account. But up to now it hasn’t,” said Eagles media officer Steve Kumilonje.

He said the development has affected the club in terms of operations and morale of the players.

“The players were expecting to receive their share [60 percent] and they have been asking us when this will happen. We also needed [40 percent] the money for the club’s operations. Anyway, we hope they will pay us soon,” said Kumilonje.

Big Bullets chief executive officer Fleetwood Haiya accused FAM of lacking courtesy and decorum.

“Imagine, there has been no explanation from FAM on why the prize money has been delayed for over a month now. This is a serious breach of the rules and regulations. Had it been its a club, you could have seen how they could have reacted to such disregard of the rules and regulations,” he said.

FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda yesterday said “there were sorting out some few things before the prize money is paid”.