Nomads mull over pull-out
e Forward Wanderers have reportedly written the Football Association of Malawi (Fam), mulling over the possibility of withdrawing from the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League’s forthcoming assignments.
A withdrawal could see Nomads banned from any inter-continental club competition in the next two years and paying a fine of K3.6 million to Caf.
Wanderers’ officials were not readily available for a comment yesterday, amid reports that there are disagreements between members of the team’s management and their sponsor, Be Forward Limited, over the budget of the continental preliminary round engagement.
“The agreement with the sponsor is that they meet 80 percent of our annual budget, with the 20 percent coming from the team, yet for this particular competition, the sponsor wants to pay just 20 percent,” a source said.
The budget for Wanderers to play two preliminary round games against AS Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo on February 11 and 21 at home and away, plus friendlies, is reportedly pegged at K98 million.
Efforts to fundraise have failed to yield dividends due to poor planning. It is a few officials who want to be at the centre of the fundraising, much to the frustration of other administrators and fans who feel sidelined.
Wanderers trustee, James Chuma, yesterday referred questions to General Secretary (GS) Mike Butao. Fam President, Walter Nyamilandu, too, said his GS [Alfred Gunda] was better placed to comment on the Nomads’ letter.
“The GS should know much better; if not, please verify directly with the source,” Nyamilandu said.
However, in the event that the TNM Super League champions (Wanderers) pull out of the competition, Fam will, as per Caf rules and regulations Article XI, bear the brunt.
The association failed to have Wanderers and Masters pay a K15 million bond to cater for such costly decisions.
Clubs get away with sanctions only when they withdraw before a draw for a Caf competition.
Wanderers, whose players shunned Wednesday’s training session in Blantyre over money issues, were set to represent Malawi in the Caf competition alongside surprise package, Masters Security.
The Lilongwe strugglers were drawn against Angola’s Atletico Petroleous de Luanda in the preliminary round.
Nomads were expected to fine tune for Caf against Nyasa Big Bullets tomorrow at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, but the friendly remains a doubt.
Masters’ preparations for the games have also been dogged by players’ boycott of training over unpaid dues. It is clear that Wanderers and Masters are, logistically, not ready for the continental competitions.
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