Nomads don’t want final played at Silver

Mighty Wanderers FC have said they do not want to play their K20 million (about $67 000) Standard Bank Knockout Trophy final match against Silver Strikers at Silver Stadium because their opponents would have an unfair advantage.

But organisers of the tournament, Football Association of Malawi (FAM), have said as per rules of the competition, the determination of the venue will be made by customers of the sponsors, Standard Bank.

While FAM and Standard Bank were yet to announce the venue as we went to press, it is likely that, in the absence of Kamuzu and Civo stadiums, the final will be staged at Silver Stadium.

Nomads general secretary David Kanyenda said FAM and the sponsors should seriously consider removing Silver Stadium from the shortlist of venues to be voted for by Standard bank’s customers.

“We are saying the issue of playing at home or away is over. That was available in the earlier stages of the competition and in the finals no team should have an unfair advantage over the other.

“[And] we are saying this for the sake of preserving integrity of the final and indeed the competition. Silver already played the semi-final at home [against Civo United] and if they want to be crowned genuine champions they should accept to play at a neutral venue, preferably Nankhaka ground,” said Kanyenda.

Kanyenda also said there is also an issue of beliefs.

“Our fans in Lilongwe have reliably informed us that Silver practise juju when playing at their backyard. We do not want our players to be bewitched,” he said.

When reminded that the Nomads played Mafco during last year’s Presidential Cup final at Kamuzu Stadium, which is deemed their home ground, Kanyenda argued: “It is different. Kamuzu Stadium is a government facility, we do not have control over it and that is why they [government] can choose to close it without even consulting us.”

He suggested that alternatively, the finals should be played over two legs as is the case in other foreign competitions, such as the Italian Cup.

“Then we can probably play one game at Silver Stadium and choose a venue of our choice for the second leg. In fact, Silver ought to support this view if they believe in fair play,” he said.

However, FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said the rules of the competition are clear.

“All the teams are aware that the final venue of the competition is determined by the bank’s customers and they [Wanderers] knew that before they entered the competition. They cannot, therefore, influence choice of the venue.

“For your information, the venue has not yet been determined,” said Nyirenda.

Silver Strikers chairperson Dr. McDonald Mafuta-Mwale accused Wanderers of trying to make a fuss out of the venue issue.

“I thought the venue is determined by Standard Bank customers? Why should Wanderers make an issue out of it?

“It is also disrespect on the part of Wanderers to accuse us of practising juju. That is nonsense. Let them prove it,” said Mafuta-Mwale.

He said his club is ready to play at any venue to be determined by the organisers.