Sulom sets k3m transfer CAP
A heated meeting tackling club licensing system (CLS) on Saturday in Blantyre made radical resolutions, including setting a K3 million domestic player transfer fee cap to bring sanity on the football market.
The agreement made at Chiwembe Technical Centre, though lacking legal mandate, means from now onwards, no player can cost more than K3 million on the domestic market.
FAM transfer matching system (TMS) manager Casper Jangale, general secretary SuzgoNyirenda and his Super League of Malawi (Sulom) counterpart Williams Banda hosted the meeting involving club secretaries and chairpersons.
“We have proposed that from now onwards, there should be a cap of K3 million. Let us face it, even in Europe there are caps,” Jangale said, acknowledging the cap proposal earlier pegged at K5 million.
The 15 Super League team representatives agreed on the caps after Jangale had schooled them on accepted player transfer dealings, including that Under-23 players are not supposed to be sold on a transfer fee, but training compensation of at least $2 000 (K800 000).
“From 2014 season, we will not allow a player without a licence which would be issued on presentation of medical certificate, contract copy, registration forms and passport. No licence, no participation,” Jangale vowed, warning that unless they put players on contracts, the clubs would continue losing players as free agents to foreign clubs.
Mighty Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda noted that sometimes clubs are unable to put players on contracts because they demand exorbitant signing-on fees.
The meeting resolved to have realistic transfer fees to avoid cutting corners.
Opening the day-long meeting, Nyirenda revealed that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had given Malawi up to December 31 2014 to start implementing the (CLS), which revolves around the 2008 Lilongwe Declaration.
“CAF has given Malawi, South Sudan and Lesotho up to December 31 to implement basic requirements for the licence,” said Nyirenda, warning that by 2015, unlicenced clubs will be barred from playing.
Nyirenda said from the new season, starting on April 19, all clubs must have permanent staff for a secretariat, own training ground, qualified coaches with a CAF C Licence as minimum, legal ownership with registered trustees.
The meeting also resolved that FAM and Sulom should enforce broadcasting rights whereby the successful bidder will be granted exclusive rights.
The meeting also agreed on the need for teams to define ownership and control of their clubs, bank accounts, cash-bond guarantee and ability to produce medical assessment certificates.
Silver Strikers chairperson McDonald Mafuta-Mwale described the meeting as fruitful, saying it is the first step in the quest to realise the dream of turning local teams into commercial entities.
“If we are to implement these things, then we will develop the game and I have to commend FAM for taking the initiative,” he said.
Other club officials that attended the meeting include Robin Alufandika and Sydney Chikoti (Azam Tigers); Rashid Ntelela (Civo); Mike Tembo (Silver Strikers); Happy Mkandawire (Blue Eagles); Godfrey Makanawo (Mafco); Fernando Sangwati (Karonga United); EvanceSaiti and Owen Chomanika (Chikwawa United); captain Gilbert Mattawa (Kamuzu Barracks); Ronald Kuchipanga (Moyale Barracks); Major ChikondiChilenga (Red Lions), Roy Mdechiand Paul Kampira (Epac).
