Players abandoned
After playing for the whole season, players need to rest but most Super League footballers wish they never had the break because it is the genesis of misery.
It has been established that most players fail to make ends meet during this three-month period. Due to the absence of game bonuses, the players survive on loan sharks.
Dwangwa United player confided in Malawi News that they had not received their salaries since December.
“Coach McDonald Mtetemera formed a squad comprising players from within and outside Nkhotakota District, now how do we survive especially those of us based outside the district? Most of us survive on loans from some individual at Dwangwa Trading. Some of our friends have families. They need to pay rentals and manage their families,” he said.
But not all the teams turn their back on the players during off-season break. Players from Malawi Defence Force (MDF) enjoy their status as soldiers.
“We have no problem when it is off-season because we still get our salaries. Missing out on game bonuses does not affect us. Afterall, football is just a plus. Our main duty is to be soldiers,” said a Moyale player who spoke on conditions of anonymity.
A senior source at Be Forward Wanderers said despite being off-season, players get their monthly perks.
“The only thing that they miss is the game bonus,” he said.
Another Wanderers’ player confirmed that they do receive their perks.
“We are given our salaries only that most players in Malawi get little perks and we survive on the allowances when playing. During the off-season, we struggle to provide for our families,” he said.
However, former Nyasa Big Bullets midfielder Chisomo Kamlanje said players’ welfare has improved compared to the past when players would be abandoned even after an injury.
“I just want to advise the players to be investing a little something for use after retiring. Teams should also consider giving better perks to the players so that they can have something to save. When a player starves during off-season, it affects his fitness,” Kamlanje said.
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