By design, Malawi’s Premier Division is supposed to be the yardstick for teams’ suitability for the Super League.
But as events unfold, it seems the authorities have paid a blind eye towards the second tier as enforcement of Club Licencing conditions are not being implemented at 100 percent, Malawi News Sport can reveal.
This has resulted into disorder and match fixing allegations marring both the Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) and Central Region Football Association (CRFA).
Recent events show that in most cases, some teams win games on the table as they benefit from opponents’ failure to show up for the match, creating room for match fixing.
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For instance, Kawinga [now Creck Sporting Club) were crowned CRFA Premier Division champions with 55 points of which 21 were forfeited from opponents who did not show up for the matches.
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Similarly, SRFA was not spared from match fixing allegations and five football officials including Fomo FC Director and a referee were arrested. The matter is currently in court.
However, one of the vice threatening to cripple domestic football is the haphazard enforcement of the Club Licencing at the second tier level.
Currently, all promoted teams have hired new coaches to head their respective panels in accordance with elite league requirements, that coaches with a minimum of Caf B licence, should be coaching at this level.
SRFA Premier Division champions Fomo have engaged Gilbert Chirwa leaving behind Mapopa Msukwa who guided the side to Super League while Kawinga have roped in MacDonald Mtetemera from Chitipa United to take over from Harry Bishop Saidi.
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Northern Region Football Association Premier Division champions Baka City have engaged Oscar Kaunda and will be assisted by Davie Muyombe, who ironically guided the side to their promotion.
Renowned coach Trevor Kajawa said Premier Division standards had fallen down overtime.
“In the past, the Premier Division was strong because a lot of teams were fully sponsored. That is why many Premier Division teams caused upsets when they faced Super League teams in cup games.
“To avoid disturbance, I would like to propose to Premier Division teams to hire Caf B coaches and this can only happen if Club Licencing is effected fully at second tier level,” Kajawa, who spent over 15 years playing for Premier Division sides such as Nico, MDC and Escom said.
Seasoned sports journalist Peter Kanjere feared malpractices would continue taking place if the authorities do not bring order to encourage teams to honour fixtures.
“This is due to the chaos that characterises these leagues. These are just glorified versions of social football leagues. For example, apart from the motivation of Super League promotion, what do club owners benefit from participating in Division One and Premier Division?
“So, if I have money to waste on a team and get nothing in return, what would stop me from buying games and even ignoring fixtures?” Kanjere asked.
The former Sports Writers Association of Malawi president said challenges in the second tier can be addressed by ensuring that compliance with Club Licencing on infrastructure, technical (coaching badges) and governance issues starts from the lower leagues.
“Club Licensing was introduced by Fifa but I guess we needed a hybrid version that is tailor made for small football nations which do not have sound structures.
“Implementing Club Licencing might not work unless we start with professionalising football from the lower levels. How do you ask a team that operates from a kitchen or bottle store to have a Caf B Licence holder for a coach?” Kanjere quizzed.
Another analyst Frank Chakanga said there is a need to level the playing field to enable eligible teams earn promotion.
“If Club Licencing is being applied at this level then we will not be having issues where a team collects more points on the table. The authorities need to be serious in the implementation of Club Licencing,” Chakanga said.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) is responsible for the enforcement of Club Licencing across all levels in the country while both SRFA and CRFA are affiliated to the national football governing body.
However, Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda said saw no reason with promoted teams changing coaches upon their graduation to the elite league.
“Club Licencing is not about coaches qualification alone. It is meant to regulate the operating model of the system.
“In the case of coaches, the criteria at premier league sets a minimum at that level and that is why upon promotion a club has to review its formation to align with the next level,” Gunda said.
However, Gunda said Fam can investigate match fixing allegations upon an official query.
“Cases happening at those levels have jurisdiction and it is only on referral that such cases would be looked into by a body at Fam level,” Gunda said.
