Mighty Mukuru Wanderers risk a K2 million fine and ban from next year’s Airtel Top 8 Cup after failing to show up for the second leg of the competition’s quarterfinal against Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre yesterday.
Referee Newton Nyirenda blew the final whistle after waiting for Wanderers to pitch up for 30 minutes, in accordance with rules and regulations of the competition.
According to Article 4.5 of the competition, if any team withdraws after the draw, then the team shall be liable to a K2 million fine and, in addition to the fine, the team shall be banned from participating in any competition organised by Fam or any of its affiliate bodies for one year.
The development means Silver have progressed to the semifinal stage of the cup 4-0 on aggregate after being declared 2-0 winners for the first and second leg matches.
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Silver will now host Mafco at Bingu NationalStadium in Lilongwe on Sunday, with the winners facing FCB Nyasa Big Bullets in the final.
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There was drama at Kamuzu Stadium yesterday as all stakeholders, except Wanderers, showed up for the match way before the scheduled kickoff time.
The Nomads had earlier made their position clear on turning up for the match and the writing was on the wall that nothing had changed. As a safety measure, organisers, Football Association of Malawi (Fam), did not open gates for spectators to enter.
Only players, journalists, stewards, medics, team and match officials were allowed entry into the soccer mecca. Wanderers had insisted that they would not honour the fixture unless disputes surrounding the first leg were ironed out.
The Lali Lubani Road side was fined K24.5 million for various offences following the fracas that marred the closing stages of the first leg.
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Fam Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the association’s competitions committee would offer guidance on the outcome of the match.
“Let us wait for the competitions committee’s guidance,” Zakazaka said.
However, Wanderers Board Secretary Chancy Gondwe said Fam was frustrating them.
“Let them go back to school and read their own rules. They were sitting on our appeal just to frustrate us. Fortunately, the Appeals Committee has been seized of our appeal and a prayer for provisional orders.
“Let us wait from the James Masumbu-led committee on the outcome of our appeal. That game is a nullity,” Gondwe said.
However, Masumbu said they were yet to get Wanderers’ appeal from the Fam secretariat.
Silver Company Secretary Peter Masiye said they would have loved to play the match for the sake of their supporters.
This is not the first time for an Airtel Top 8 match to court controversy as, in 2019, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were barred following violence that marred the 2018 final when the People’s Team lost 1-0 to Blue Eagles.
