Super League teams dismiss 73 players

With a few days before the TNM Super League season kick off, teams have released at least 73 players.

A random check shows Bullets and fourth-placed Civo United have each released 11 players, Moyale Barracks 10, TNM Super League runners-up Silver Strikers five, Karonga (eight), TN Stars (seven), Blue Eagles and TN Stars (six).

Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said the team released 11 players on recommendation from the technical panel, considering that their contracts were due to expire.

He also said the club was not liable to pay compensation as their contracts were due to expire.

On his part, TNM Stars general secretary Bester Ngwale said they released the seven players because of poor performance.

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda, who is also former Football Association of Malawi general secretary, said players should have planned for their future.

He said: “Fifa allows players to commence courting other teams six months prior to expiry of their contracts and if they leave it late, things can become awkward.

“Players ought to have planned six months earlier which way to go in case their contracts are not renewed. As a matter of fact, most of the released players were not having game time.”

Of the players released, most are yet to secure deals. Only five from Bullets have secured contracts. Chiukepo Msowoya was offered a two-year contract by Bullets rivals Mighty Wanderers, Ben Manyozo and Sankhani Mkandawire signed for Blue Eagles, Luke Chima has joined Civo United while Chimango Kayira signed for Mozambican top-flight league team Associação Desportiva De Vilankulo.

The rest of the players are yet to get an offer. Former Silver defender Hadji Wali has been offered a two-year contract at Bullets.

However, Mighty Tigers technical director Robin Alufandika said they are yet to release players who would not be in their plans.

But Players Football Union chairperson Ernest Mangani said in an interview they have so far received 20 complaints from players over unfair dismissal.

He said: “Most of the complaints, among others, are to do with short notice and non-payment of signing-on fees. We notice that some teams are being unfair in the sense that they waited until the end of their contracts to alert players on whether they were in their plans or not.”

While urging players to be affiliated members of the union and have a manager, Mangani said the Malawi football industry needs to enforce the regulations governing contracts.

He said: “Apart from the fact that many teams are yet to be following labour laws to the letter, the FA needs to introduce licencing regulations that compel the major league runners, Sulom, not to register any player who does not have a manager.

The league is expected to kick off next week with the Charity Shield between TNM Super League defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers.