FAM rebuffs Nomads

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has turned down Be Forward Wanderers’ request  to shift the venue of the Carlsberg Cup semi-final against Moyale Barracks from Mzuzu Stadium to Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe.

In a letter signed by general secretary Mike Butao to FAM, the Nomads argue that the match has to be played at a neutral venue just like the other semi-final between Nyasa Big Bullets and Red Lions, which will be played at BNS.

Reads Butao’s letter: “We are seeking change of venue of the Carlsberg Cup semi-final game to a neutral venue. The other semi-final game will be played at a neutral venue in Lilongwe despite both teams coming from the Southern Region.

“This levels the playing field and nobody gets an advantage from this arrangement. We are asking the competitions committee to show the same spirit of fairness by fixing the Moyale vs Wanderers game at Bingu Stadium on August 26.”

The Nomads are expected to arrive in the country today from Mozambique where they played Quelimane select side in friendly.

They have two days to rest before hitting the road again to Mzuzu for the cup semi-final on Saturday and a Super League match against Mzuzu Univeristy (Mzuni) FC on Sunday.

But the Nomads would rather go to Mzuzu on Saturday after the Carlsberg Cup semi-final in Lilongwe.

Butao concedes that even this arrangement will be tough for the Nomads.

“While this is logistically challenging on our part, at least it will give an equal chance for either team to excel in a neutral atmosphere. This arrangement will not only be fair, but will also be seen to be fair by everybody,” he says in the letter to FAM.

FAM competitions manager Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed receiving Wanderers’ request and that although they are yet to respond, the match venue has not changed.

“Basically, the answer is no. The match will be played is Mzuzu as previously announced,” he said.