Sulom lifts ban on BB, Nomads

Sulom has lifted bans imposed on Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers on the use of the giant Kamuzu Stadium in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president Innocent Bottomani on Monday said the decision has been made in the spirit of forgiveness in the wake of the Chilembwe Day on Monday.

Although the two local football powerhouses will only be able to play a game each following the lifting of the ban, nevertheless they were both relieved with the flagship league governing body’s move.

Said Bottomani on Monday: “The bans that were imposed on Mighty Wanderers and Bullets on the use of Kamuzu Stadium have been lifted immediately in the wake of the Chilembwe Day that is supposed to encourage us on the need for forgiveness as it is a special day.

“The other reason is that during the better part of the bans, the supporters of both teams displayed good behaviour and showed a lot of remorse.”

However, the Sulom head said both teams will have to meet the conditions to be set by the stadium authorities as they (teams) are yet to meet the costs of repairing the damages inflicted on the facility.

“Hopefully, they will abide by the conditions to be set by the stadium authorities,” he said.

Bottomani also urged supporters to display sportsmanship and avoid indulging in acts of hooliganism and violence.

Bullets interim chairperson Malinda Chinyama—whose side will only play their final league game against Civo United at the stadium—was grateful to Sulom.

“It doesn’t matter that we’ll play only one game at the stadium. Sulom has demonstrated the spirit of sportsmanship and we thank its management wholeheartedly,” Chinyama said.

He also disclosed that as a result of the ban, the People’s Team was failing to reinvest money made from their club house business.

“The bulk of the money was going towards meeting the costs of playing our league games outside Blantyre and as a result, we failed to open other clubs in Lilongwe and Mzuzu as we had initially planned,” Chinyama said.

On his part, Nomads vice-general secretary Richard Kambalame also described Sulom’s gesture as a welcome development.

The Nomads will also play only one league game against Blantyre United at the stadium as their other fixture is against Moyale away in Mzuzu.

“We have spent a lot of money playing most of our home matches outside Blantyre. We were spending over K100 000 for each game in Balaka and it therefore comes as a relief that at least our fans will watch us in one of the remaining games at the Kamuzu Stadium,” said Kambalame.

He also claimed that had it not been for the ban, the Nomads would have won the championship without breaking sweat.

“If we were playing at the stadium, the story would have been different,” he said.

A Bullets Soche-based diehard Rodrick Walesi and Wanderers supporters committee secretary Felix Njaya also expressed appreciation of Sulom’s decision.

Said Walesi: “You can imagine, I work as a casual labourer and it was difficult for me to be following my team outside Blantyre. At least the solace is that I will be able to watch the last game at the stadium.”

On his part Njaya said: “It’s a big relief that before the season ends, nyerere will be back at the stadium and we are thankful to Sulom.”

The Nomads were banned following acts of violence during their league game against Red Lions while the People’s Team were found guilty of violent acts during their game against Blantyre United.