Super League of Malawi (Sulom) yesterday dismissed Be Forward Wanderers’ complaint over fixtures as the flagship league heads towards the climax.
The Nomads currently lead the table with 58 points from 25 games, four above second-placed Nyasa Big Bullets, with Silver Strikers third on 50 points from the same number of games.
Part of the Nomads’ complaint sent by their general secretary Mike Butao which The Nation has seen, reads: “At this tail-end of the league season, may I ask that all contenders for the title be given equal number of games per week so that there is no pressure on one team to play catch-up.
“Both Bullets and Silver have been given two games next week while we have only one game.
“Please, level the playing field for all of us so that we win or lose games on the field of play, not due to other factors.”
However, Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said the Nomads complaint was not valid as they were referring to an old fixture.
He said Bullets will have two games next week because their match against Azam Tigers, which was initially scheduled for this Sunday, has been shifted to next week as they will be involved in a Fisd Challenge Cup quarter-final match against Moyale Barracks. The People’s Team’s other game will be against Silver Strikers next weekend.
“I believe they have a fixture that was released long time ago. Corporate diplomacy is very important.
“We have to be fair, responsible, transparent and accountable to all the 16 clubs. Wanderers had no game this week, but the [fixtures] committee is seriously looking at ensuring that the game is respected.
“My humble advice to Be Forward Wanderers family is to hold their hearts and God will accord them the way. The constitution is clear and sanctions are clear for influencing results. Actually, Sulom was avoiding complaints from them to give a fixture which is not on schedule,” he said.
However, Butao countered: “Look at it this way, BB have two games next week and we will have one, then they will travel to Dwangwa and again play two games, it means we will be two games behind and we are trying to avoid such a scenario.
“Elsewhere, the norm is to play equal number of games and even play the deciding matches at the same time to avoid match-fixing.”
But Banda maintained that the Nomads were fearing the unknown.
