Clubs spend K2.8m on botched play-offs
Wizards FC and Airborne Rangers allegedly spent K2.8 million on the failed play-offs and the clubs are waiting for the injunction hearing outcome to find out who will reimburse them.
Dedza Young Soccer Saints obtained an injunction stopping the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) from holding the play-offs and Sulom is yet to vacate the injunction.
Blantyre based Wizards spent nearly over K1.5 million in transport, accommodation and food to fulfill the aborted fixtures at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.
the injunction was served
“As of now, we are waiting for the court ruling. As such we are yet to start processing refund of expenses from Sulom. But we spent over K1.5 million to travel to Lilongwe for the fixtures.
“We don’t know the outcome of the court ruling, as such, we cannot point fingers and demand a refund until such a time we have direction,” said Wizards owner Peter Mponda in a telephone interview from Blantyre.
Airborne Rangers chairperson Major Mabvuto Chimbayo said they spent K666 498 to fulfil the fixtures in Lilongwe and will demand refund after the outcome of the court hearing Airborne Rangers camped in Lilongwe for three days prior to their first fixture against Wizards last Saturday.
“We paid K200 000 affiliation fee to Sulom to be eligible for the playoffs. We used 100 litters of fuel at K722.90 a litre adds up to K72 290, rations cost us K378 208 and we spent K16 000 on refreshments. In total all expenses for us to fulfil fixtures add up to K666 498,” said Major Chimbayo in a telephone interview from Salima.
Airbone lost 2-1 to Wizards in the first and only fixture of the playoffs before the games were cancelled.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said he could not comment on refund of expenses to the teams because the case is yet to be decided by the courts.
“We are gagged by the courts to comment on this. As of now we cannot say anything on refunding the teams until a ruling is made by the courts. It is complicated, but we will make our position known once the court outcome is known,” said Banda. n
