Super League teams have been advised to carefully analyse manifestos before they select which candidate to vote for during the body’s elective annual general meeting (AGM) slated for Mangochi on February 25.
The development comes after Nyasa Big Bullets Vice President Fleetwood Haiya launched his manifesto, premising it on five pillars which include hiking clubs’ annual subvention to K7 million from K1 million annually.
However, some analysts have faulted Haiya, saying he did not elaborate on how and where he was going to get funds to implement this.
As such, analysts called for clubs to critically examine every manifesto to check if it is doable.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Director Humphreys Mvula said clubs might be sold a dummy because Haiya did not indicate where he will get funding.
“I find this to be a campaign gimmick to woo votes because he lacks an implementation plan on how he is going to raise all that money from the current K1 million which each team gets.
“It has been a trend in this country that most aspiring candidates make promises which they do not fulfil. I see some gaps in what he has promised in his manifesto. I think the manifesto says he will increase subvention to K5 million but during the presentation he said he will increase it to K7 million,” Mvula said.
Football Players Association General Secretary Ernest Mangani said Haiya’s manifesto is colourful but faulted it for lacking elements on player welfare, saying the annual subvention should have been increased to help players directly.
“We have heard about revamping Sulom secretariat and commercialising teams but what is the players’ take?
“This is one important component which is missing in his manifesto and I would like other presidential contestants to seriously address this issue in their manifesto,” he said.
However, Bullets Council Member Jim Kalua backed Haiya to deliver what he has promised.
“It is normal for aspirants to come up with appetising offers. I believe that when you are aspiring for those positions, you promise what you can deliver. This is not just about campaign. By mentioning those figures, I believe Fleetwood can deliver. He has developed a manifesto which I believe can be accomplished,” he said.
Haiya did not respond to our questionnaire as we went to press Monday.
Peter Fote is a Sports Journalist with huge experience in radio and Television reporting, production and presentation. He once worked with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and is currently working for Times Media Group.
