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Doubts over football bonanzas’ future

 

Football starved fans have to forget about a bonanza any time soon after Football Association of Malawi (FAM) said it was re-examining the pros and cons of such events.

FAM general secretary (GS) Alfred Gunda was reacting to whether the association would grant licences to those seeking to hold football bonanzas as the Super League off-season period enters second month.

Gunda: We have summoned all stakeholders

“Right now we would rather not have a bonanza than end up spoiling the reputation of the association. We are revisiting such events and weighing whether we really need them at all,” he said.

The GS statement comes hot on the heels of the Luso TV Bus Ipite Bonanza prize controversy.

Be Forward Wanderers won the top prize of a Nissan Caravan bus after beating Nyasa Big Bullets 5-1 in a two-legged encounter played at Kamuzu and Bingu National stadiums.

However, the bus developed a clutch fault on the way to Blantyre and was towed to Nissan Malawi.  But the organisers, Luso TV, have refused to pay K1.2 million bill to redeem the vehicle, saying it was taken to Nissan Malawi without their consent.

Meanwhile, FAM has since summoned all the stakeholders—Luso TV, Be Forward Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets—to a meeting on Friday in Blantyre.

“The issue that is being talked about is of the bus, but there are a number of unresolved issues. There is the issue of SMS competition in which a lucky person won a car. The clubs were supposed to get a share from the SMS proceeds and that has not yet happened as well.

“We want to tackle all issues at once. We want to look at what was agreed and what has been fulfilled so far and the way forward.

“At the end of the meeting, we will issue a statement as regards the association’s position on the matter,” said Gunda.

Both Wanderers and Bullets confirmed that they were yet to get their share of the SMS competition proceeds.

Luso TV station manager Dick Juma said it is just a misunderstanding that has led to the bus to be stuck at Nissan Malawi.

“We are coming to Blantyre on Friday for the meeting with FAM and the clubs and everything will be sorted out,” he said.

Apart from the prize of the bus, Luso TV also paid appearance fees, travel and accommodation expenses for the clubs. n

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