Malawi clubs question TNM awards’ credibility

Some Super League clubs in Malawi, including champions Silver Strikers, have expressed reservations over the credibility of last season’s TNM awards which were presented last week. 

Some teams have since questioned the decision to award Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers as teams who had the most disciplined supporters during the 2012/13 season.

“It is on record that the two teams’ supporters were involved in violence on several occasions. It is, therefore, strange for them to win the award,” said Silver Strikers chairperson Dr McDonald Mafuta Mwale.

“If Silver were awarded such a bogus accolade, we would have refused. In my opinion, Blue Eagles could have been the deserving team,” said Mwale.

Civo general secretary Rashid Ntelera said giving the two teams the award is like condoning hooliganism.

“If violence is [recognised] with an award, then we have a long way to go to control hooliganism. I do not know the criteria used to award the accolade, but it is bad for the sport. Sulom has cases of the two clubs’ supporters being involved in violence,” he said.

Kamuzu Barracks team manager Francis Shaba also expressed reservations on the award.

“This is laughable. It is a gesture meant to appease the two teams. There is no way the two clubs could win the award. We have evidence that their supporters were involved in hooliganism on a number of occasions,” he said.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) fixtures secretary Patrick Chisale, who is also responsible for statistics, said the selection process involved Sulom and TNM officials and soccer fans.

“The two were selected based on Super League games only and not cup games. The two teams did not cause violence in league games,” he said.