Mighty Mukuru Wanderers have put their foot down on meeting Silver Strikers in a return match of the Airtel Top 8 Cup quarterfinal.
The match was supposed to take place on Saturday with Wanderers hoping that, by then, Football Association of Malawi (Fam) appeals committee would overturn the result of the first leg match played at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe on September 23.
An appeal hearing of Fam Competitions Committee’s determination was initially scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed to Friday at Fam’s Mpira House in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre.
Wanderers Chief Executive Officer Roosevelt Mpinganjira said they will not show up for the match until the matter of the result of the first leg match is resolved.
“Hearing on the matter failed to take place as scheduled and I do not know the reasons for the failure. But our stand is that it will be a no-show for us come Saturday if this is the status quo. The game will not be played without the issue of the first leg match being brought to a logical conclusion,” Mpinganjira said.
- Advertisement -
Fam has since postponed the match to a later date.
According to Fam Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka, the postponement follows the on-going disciplinary case on the first leg match following Wanderers’ appeal against the determination made by Fam’s Competitions Committee.
“The second leg will proceed after the hearing,” Zakazaka said in a written response.
However, renowned football analyst and player agent Felix Ngamanya Sapao expressed doubts about the Nomads’ chances of winning the appeal.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“Both Fam Appeals Committee and Competitions Committee ruled against them on the basis that they caused game abandonment. It is quite rare for a team that causes game abandonment, whether at Fifa or Caf level, to win such a case,” Sapao said.
The association’s Appeals Committee last week upheld a ruling by its Competitions Committee which faulted Wanderers for causing match abandonment and failing to control their supporters, leading to violent scenes that resulted into the alleged damaging of some seats at BNS.
The committee therefore slapped the Nomads with a K2.5 million fine and also ordered them to pay for the damaged seats at the match venue.
Fam has also announced that the Castel Challenge Cup match between Red Lions and Wanderers will be played on Sunday at Balaka Stadium, with Moyale and Mighty Wakawaka Tigers meeting on November 29.
