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Refs claim Sulom owes them K2.7m

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) owes referees about K2.7 million in unpaid officiation fees for the 2020/21 season, the National Football Referees Association (NFRA) confirmed on Sunday.

The referees say they have gone four months without getting their dues.

Three referees, two from the Southern Region and one from the Central Region, have confided that the last time Sulom paid them their dues was in July 2021.

Centre referees and assistants each get K22 000 while a fourth official and match assessor receive K12 000 each translating to K90 000 per match.

NFRA general secretary Chris Kalichero said: “We are waiting to hear from Sulom. we gave them a reconciliation on how much they owe us, but we don’t know when they will pay us.

“We hope payment will be made as soon as possible because referees are complaining.”

But while confirming that they owe the referees, Sulom general secretary Williams Banda contradicted Kalichero on the amount.

He said the balance was around K1.5 million, but in November Sulom paid the referees K900 000 meaning the balance is about K600 000.

Banda said: “We cannot give them money without reconciliation. We are waiting for reconciliation because normally we give them [money] in advance and the balance is less K1.5 million, but we gave them some money meaning the balance is not K2.7 million.

“Tell them [NFRA] that Sulom is waiting for reconciliation that’s the amount received and amounting remaining.”

A referee, who did not want to be named, expressed dissapointment with the delay to get their dues.

“On a serious note, Sulom officials take us for granted. How can we officiate the entire season, giving out prizes to the winners yet they owe us money? Penapake zinthu izi zimalowa chibwana [they are not serious],” he said.

Another referee said the last time they were paid was in July, meaning Sulom is yet to pay them for 60 games they officiated.

“We were hoping to receive the money before December 25, but nothing happened. Now we have celebrated the New Year, but still Sulom doesn’t want to pay us. They want to start paying us towards the new season which is frustrating,” he said.

The 2020-21 TNM Super League season ended on October 17 with Nyasa Big Bullets retaining the title.

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