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Economic hardships affect transfer window

 

Despite so much noise from TNM Super League giants—Nyasa Big Bullets, Be Forward Wanderers and Silver Strikers—on their intention to spend big, the transfer window closed on Tuesday midnight without any high-profile transfer.

At the close of the window, 68 transfers were completed and unlike the last transfer window, 60 percent of the players were from lower league sides and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda attributed the slow market to the economic hardship the clubs are going through.

“I think the macroeconomic environment in the country has not been conducive for the Super League teams for them to buy players,” said Banda.

“The other thing is that most of these clubs do not budget for the players they will buy. But we hope in the future the transfer market will improve.”

Bullets failed to get him on board: Chester
Bullets failed to get him on board: Chester

Bullets, who were hoping to sign Silver Strikers’ duo Thuso Paipi and Lucky Malata as well as Azam Tigers’ Yamikani Chester, hit the wall on the trio.

The TNM Super League defending champions settled for little-known Mzuzu United lanky striker Collins Nkhulambe and Maneno Nyoni from Karonga United.

Bullets general secretary Kelvin Moyo admitted that the market was tough.

“This transfer window, compared with the experience we had in the last one, has been difficult. Our K5.5 million bid for Yamiani Chester and K4 million for Talekeleni Joseph from Wizards were turned down.

“In the last transfer window, we managed to sign free agents Chikondi Likwemba, George Nyirenda, Niyikiza Aimable and McFarlen Mgwira. But it has not been the same this time around,” said Moyo.

Silver also had the same experience. They were interested in signing several players, including Mozambique-based Chawanangwa Kawonga.

However, at the close of transfer window on Tuesday, they had only managed to sign Young Chimodzi Jnr. Their general secretary Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda said the other transfers never materialised.

“Bullets snatched the striker [ Nkhulambe] we were also hoping to sign from Mzuzu United,” he said.

Wanderers have not been left put from the economic malaise that affected the transfer market.

The Nomads have not concluded any deal but they went on to apply for an International Transfer Certificate for a Nigerian player Adekola Sadiq to avoid missing the international deadline.

Apart from the yet-to-be-identified Nigerian, the only new name on Nomads list at Sulom secretariat is of one Dave Banda from Mangochi. Team manager Steve Madeira confirmed Banda is the only local player joining the Nomads.

The Nomads have, however, loaned out some players to cut down on their wage bill. Patrick Gunde, Peter Nselema and Sparrow Msowoya have since been roped in by Max Bullets while goalkeeper Bester Phiri has joined Wizards.

Meanwhile, Red Lions have received a big boost following the return of their players Chamveka Gwetsani, Kelvin Katema and Benjamin Kaluwa who are back from peace-keeping mission.

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