The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has faulted an appeal filed by Silver Strikers contesting the verdict of the disciplinary committee on the violence that occurred during their abandoned Super League match against Mighty Wanderers in Balaka a fortnight ago.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda on Thursday said what the Bankers filed is a letter of an intention to appeal, not the actual appeal.
“Maybe to them it is an appeal, but the way we see it, it is a letter of intention and I doubt whether the Appeals Committee will treat it as such. I wish you had seen the document that they sent.
“Anyway, I cannot speak on behalf of the Appeals Committee and, indeed, the clubs. But based on the rules, when you are appealing against a verdict, you are supposed to clearly outline the grounds that you are contesting. You present arguments against decisions,” said the Sulom GS.
He said Silver needed to submit relevant documents and exhibits, if any. He also disclosed that although they had appealed, both teams did so without paying the required K225 000 (about $562) appeal fee.
Sulom fixtures secretary Patrick Chisale confirmed receiving Wanderers’ appeal documents.
Reacting to Banda’s comments, Silver chairperson McDonald Mafuta-Mwale scorned at Sulom, saying it is not true that they have not presented their grounds of appeal.
“Regardless of how he [Banda] looks at it, to us that is an appeal. Our main argument is that the initial hearing was done in a hurry. So, we are saying there is need for thorough investigations.
“If we are to be charged, it has to be based on facts and not hearsay,” said Mafuta-Mwale.
“They are just trying to skirt around the issue. Otherwise, the point they are trying to drive at is the appeal fee. To them, an appeal is money, that is what they are interested in,” said Mafuta-Mwale.
Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda confirmed filing the appeal without the required fee.
“We submitted to Sulom secretariat, but as for the appeal fee, we already stated our position that it has no basis and it lacks foundation in the rules. It is arbitrary and manifestly excessive,” he said.
Banda said the appeals committee will determine when to meet.
