FAM, Sulom tamper with own harmonised calendar
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) have joined a growing queue of culprits in tampering with what was supposed to be a harmonised domestic football calendar.
This is the case as yesterday Sulom postponed TNM Super League first-round games between Epac and Silver Strikers due to the Flames’ trip to Zambia for this Sunday’s friendly match ahead of the Cosafa Castle Cup to be held in South Africa.
Somba-Banda said the postponement was due to Silver’s contribution of over four players notably Lucky Malata, Tizgobere Kumwenda, Peter Wadabwa and Victor Limbani to the travelling Flames’ party.
“In its place, the game between Dedza Young Soccer and Epac FC has been brought forward and will be played this weekend on May 9 2015 at Dedza Stadium. Apologies for any inconveniences these changes might have caused,” Somba-Banda explained in a circular.
The challenge has also been compounded by the unavailability of Chitowe Stadium which is booked by other parties this Saturday “and Silver Strikers, Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers are exempted due to their players’s contribution to the travelling Flames.”
Contacted yesterday, Somba-Banda admitted that the trip was not in the original calendar “but as you know the calendar is a living document which changes according to situations. It was then revised to accommodate the Zambia, Egypt and South Africa friendly games. The revised calendar was agreed by FAM, Sulom and all its affiliates.”
And Nyirenda admitted that the trip to Zambia was initially not on the calendar as the association was then still discussing with their Zambia counterparts over the friendly game.
“When the agreement was reached, Super League had kicked off, hence the changes in the fixtures. However, we are hopeful that this will not affect Sulom plans for the first-round. All other international fixtures dates have already being communicated to Sulom,” said Nyirenda.
