Details are emerging on financial problems at relegated TNM Super League side Blue Eagles, with players and technical panel members being owed over K26 million in payments.
This is against revelations by Malawi Police Service (MPS) Deputy Inspector General Happy Mkandawire that funds were being provided to the team.
Mkandawire said they had demanded a financial report with proper handovers so that all outstanding payments are made.
MPS fired the entire committee that oversaw the team’s relegation to the second-tier Chipiku Central Region Football Association League Premier Division.
Mkandawire said they had asked the outgoing executive committee to do proper handovers, which will include a financial report, so that they appreciate the number of players and technical officials who are owed.
“There is nothing to worry about. Every player who is owed by our club should be assured that they will be paid. This is a matter we are aware of. As management, we did quite a lot in providing resources to the team but we know that there are a few players who are still owed by us, as it happens everywhere. So we have mandated the National Police Sports Board to do proper handovers with the outgoing executive. We will have all the records from the financial report,” he said.
Mkandawire said police management was unhappy with the team’s relegation to the lower league, hence the firing of the entire executive.
A source within the club’s setup confided in Times Sport that the outgoing committee is also required to account for the K5 million which the club received after making it to the Castel Challenge Cup quarterfinals.
“The team’s seven-member technical panel is also owed about K7.5 million with head coach Eliya Kananji receiving K300,000 out of the K3 million he is owed. Other technical panel members such as Christopher Sibale, Phillip Masiye, Missi Kampira, Chimwemwe Chitedze and Noel Kainja only got K200,000 each from the K500,000 which they should have pocketed. But they have not been paid for close to a year.
“Players’ game bonuses are amounting to around K4.5 million for eight games. Each player gets a K50,000 bonus for a win and half the amount for a draw. So this is for seven wins and one draw. Some seven senior players are also owed upkeep allowances amounting to K4.8 million,” the source said.
Eagles players and technical panel members are also yet to receive their January salaries.
The cops’ outgoing treasurer Hassan Dezio declined to comment on the matter.
The team was relegated on head-to-head ground after a tie in all aspects with Moyale on the last day of the season.
However, the policemen appealed against the decision, saying the method of relegation used is not in the league’s rules and regulations.
The matter is yet to be resolved by Football Association of Malawi.
