Sulom explains AGM delay
The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has spoken out on the delay to call for the flagship league’s general assembly, saying it has to do with logistics.
During the TNM sponsorship package announcement in Blantyre in May, Sulom president Innocent Bottomani assured the clubs that he would call for an annual general meeting (AGM) in June. However, the meeting did not take place, prompting some teams to raise eyebrows.
However, Bottomani justified the delay this week, saying the meeting could not be held in the middle of the league. He said it will now be held after completing the first round. He admitted that it was an oversight to announce that the AGM would be held in June.
“The other factors that have contributed to the delay of the AGM are that we do not have enough funds in our coffers as most of the clubs have not yet paid their affiliation and registration fees,” explained Bottomani.
He added that the administration fee that the league gets from the sponsor is not enough to meet all the operations of the league.
“Apart from general operations, we also have to look at the issue of officiation fees and there are also cost-implications in holding an AGM,” said the Sulom president.
He dismissed suggestions that he is afraid of calling for the AGM.
“There is nothing to be afraid of because we have no skeletons in our cupboard. The delay is purely logistical,” assured Bottomani.
Before the start of the season, some teams, notably Silver Strikers, Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers and Escom United protested Sulom’s move to start the league before holding an AGM.
The clubs claimed that there were issues such as officiation, match-fixing, review of gate-taking percentages, access to sponsorship agreement and general administration of the league that needed to be looked into.
Silver Strikers chairperson Dr. McDonald Mafuta-Mwale, his Escom counterpart Fanuel Nkhono, Wanderers and BB general secretaries David Kanyenda and Higger Mkandawire respectively, said they were happy that the league had cleared the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the AGM.
Said Mafuta-Mwale: “It is not that we are on a witch-hunting campaign, but you may recall that one of the reasons the previous Sulom executive committee lost direction was because they ignored the AGM.”
Nkhono said Sulom has an obligation to call for an AGM to, among other things, review the league and address affiliates’ concerns such as seeking the views of the clubs on sponsorship.
Kanyenda said other crucial issues that need to be addressed are unavailability of advance fixtures, former vice-president Charles Twalibu’s recent resignation, advertising rights and selective punishment towards teams on discipline and accounts for the previous executive committee.
In an interview last week, Twalibu cited fundamental governance flaws as the main reason for his resignation.
