Fam appeal ruling this weekend

By Mabvuto Kambuwe 

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Appeals Committee is this weekend expected to decide whether Beach Soccer Association (BSA) was indeed without a committee from 2018 as determined by the association’s disciplinary committee recently.

The decision will be made following a preliminary hearing that took place on December 5 at Mpira Village, Chiwembe Township, in Blantyre.

In his submission before the Appeals Committee chaired by James Masumbu, lawyers representing BSA, Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda and David Kanyenda, asked the committee to throw out the appeal on the basis of Fam’s failure to abide by its own laws.

Chakaka Nyirenda and Kanyenda told the hearing that Fam’s lawyer failed to pay the K800,000 fee meant for the appeal.

The two lawyers also said Fam failed to make a submission within the required three days after the ruling as stipulated in the football governing body’s statutes.

Speaking in a separate interview, Kanyenda said he was happy to be part of the case and could not wait to see justice prevail.

“Fam first objected to my joining the case, saying being a member of the players welfare committee, I would be caught up in a conflict of interest. But this was shot down and I continued representing my clients.

“My joining of the case has nothing to do with personal issues against any individuals. I just want to see justice prevail. There is a lot of injustice in the country’s football circles and I will not just sit back and watch,” he said.

Chakaka Nyirenda, who is also Silver Strikers Legal Adviser, said he opted to team up with Kanyenda because of his experience and knowledge in football matters.

However, Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda said they followed all procedures in filing their appeal.

“We know what we were supposed to do before filing the appeal. We therefore expect those hearing the case to make their judgement based on submissions made by both parties,” Gunda said.

On the failure to pay the required K800,000 appeal fee, Gunda said it would not make sense for Fam to pay itself.

“We would have chosen to cheat by writing a receipt when the money was not actually paid. But we did not do so because we do not see the need to pay for our own appeal,” he said.

Fam appealed the decision by its own disciplinary committee that nullified BSA elections held in August in Mangochi. Lawyers Patrick Mpaka and Felix Tandwe are representing Fam in the case.

Besides Masumbu, the Fam Appeals Committee also has Paula Caetano, Louis Ulaya, Felix Tambulasi and Arthur Nanthulu.