The Northern Region Football League (NRFL) and the Northern Region Football Committee (NRFC) have failed to agree on a possible trade off ahead of polls to elect an amalgamated regional committee.
Elections of football committees are set for this Saturday in all the regions.
NRFL general secretary Alfred Gunda on Sunday claimed that their NRFC counterparts turned down their suggestion to equitably share the positions.
“We made a suggestion to our friends for a possible trade off, but they gave a condition that they should have all the major positions such as chairperson and general secretary and we felt that was unfair.
“The suggestion was made in the spirit of unity and developing the game, but since they refused, the polls will be open,” said Gunda.
But NRFC chairperson Peter Chavula dismissed Gunda’s claims.
“I think he [Gunda] is misrepresenting facts to some extent because the truth of the matter is that myself and my colleague from the NRFL [Lameck Khonje] reached a compromise that I will go for the position of chairperson while he will contest for vice-chairperson.
“It was the other positions, especially that of GS where we failed to reach a compromise because there are a number of people from both sides who were interested,” explained Chavula.
However, Khonje to a certain extent contradicted Chavula, saying the issue has been left in the hands of affiliates to decide.
“Of course, initially that was the idea, but then we have thought it wise to leave it in the hands of affiliates. We do not want to impose candidates on them,” said Khonje.
Southern Region Football League (SRFL) chairperson Trouble Kalua could neither confirm nor deny whether he is contesting for the top seat.
“It is the most closely guarded secret. I cannot say anything for now,” said Kalua on Tuesday.
His Southern Region Football Committee (SRFC) counterpart Raphael Humba already declared that he would contest for the top position.
“My main aim is to find sponsorship for the league as well as other cup competitions,” he said.
SRFL general secretary George Pagaja has also submitted his nomination for the position of general secretary.
“I am standing and my target is to create the structures in the districts by working closely with the district sports development officers. Then there is the issue of sponsorship for the league as well,” he said.
In the Central Region, CRFL chairperson Dini Josaya Banda will contest against his CRFC counterpart Austin Ajawa for the top seat while their deputies Charles Kapichi and Daniel Mphepo respectively will also battle it out for the position of vice-chairperson.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said yesterday that they were still compiling the nominations and that the full list was to be released yesterday.
Nyirenda said only those serving in the regional committees will be eligible to contest for transitional purposes.
He said the new regional associations will serve for the next two years and then normal elections will be held.
