By Vincent Madalitso Chauma
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) remains adamant that the second leg quarter final match between Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Silver Strikers in the Airtel Top 8 will not be postponed despite the former’s appeal.
On December 4,2023, Nomads sought postponement of the match scheduled for December 6, 2023 citing dissatisfaction with FAM Disciplinary Committee’s determination on its appeal.
Quoting Article 14(2) of the 2023 Airtel Top 8 Rules and Regulations, the team further demanded the Disciplinary Committee to provide reasoned determination which will enable it to substantiate the grounds of appeal that it filed to the association.
‘Take further notice that the grounds of appeal shall be furnished once the Disciplinary Committee issues a reasoned determination as undertaken in the letter dated 2nd December 2023, but served on the appeallant on 3rd December 2023,’ reads part of the Wanderers’ appeal.
Therefore, the team has prayed for postponement of the match up until the Appeals Committee makes a reasoned determination.
‘Pending issuance of the reasoned determination and pending hearing and determination of the appeal by the Appeals Committee, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Football Club humbly prays the second led fixture against Silver Strikers Football Club be postponed,’ dared Wanderers.
However, in its counterstrike through the letter dated 5th December 2023 signed by FAM Chief Executive Officer, Alfred Gift Gunda addressed to Wanderers’ Chief Executive Officer, Roosevelt Mpinganjira, the football mother body remains intransigent in listening to the team’s appeal insisting the game is still on.
Gunda said the decision respects guidelines stipulated in Article 8.5 and 8.6 of 2023 Airtel Top 8 Rules and Regulations.
On providing the team with reasoned determination as per its request, FAM caved in to expedite issuance of the same in written form within this week.
Regarding gross misconducts by Wanderers during Airtel Top 8 first leg quarter final match against the Central Bankers on 23rd September 2023 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, FAM Competition Committee slapped Nomads with MK22,083,400 penalty for repair and restoration of damaged facilities, MK2,000,000 for bringing a game of football, FAM and sponsors in disrepute and again MK500,000 for failing to control its supporters who damaged seats and strewn objects into the pitch.
Worse still, the committee scraped off Nomads’ hard-earned goal in the match that ended 2 – 1 in favour of Silver Strikers by awarding the latter a 2 – 0 cushion as the Lali Luban side contradicted Article 10.3 of 2023 Airtel Top 8 dos and don’ts when it abandoned the match.
