FAM calls for BB ceasefire

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) on Wednesday demanded a ceasefire from warring Big Bullets executive and supporters’ committee members ahead of this Sunday’s match against Sudan’s Al Hilal.

Infighting threatens to undermine the Bullets’ remote prospects of overturning a 4-0 first leg, first-round defeat to Al Hilal in the 2015 CAF Champions League.

The call, which seems to have been taken heed of, emerged from a meeting that gave birth to a task force led by executive committee vice-chairperson Sadiki Malinga, general secretary Harold Fote confirmed.

“FAM asked for a ceasefire for the sake of Malawi football and Bullets. The supporters’ main grievances were that we were sidelining them in running the team and we felt we had that mandate,” Fote explained.

“We eventually accepted to be consulting them from time to time. The mandate of the task force ends after the game. Thereafter, there will be a stakeholders’ meeting to dig into the cause of the divisions.”

Other members in the committee are supporters Bize Kalozeni, Trust Nkhoma and Dave Matemba, FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda also confirmed.

Nyirenda said officers from his office invited the Kondi Msungama-led under fire executive for a round table against the disgruntled fans, some of who looted the club’s office, got arrested and chased coach Nsanzurwimo Ramadhan from training on Wednesday.

Supporters’ committee chairperson Stone Mwamadi confirmed the meeting, but insisted that they still consider Msungama as out of office. Malinga could not be reached.

“FAM asked for assurance from us that there will be peace on Sunday and we were advised against speaking to the press about the misunderstandings, but I was surprised that the GS was the first to talk to the media,” said Mwamadi.