Sulom optimistic season will return
Despite registering 92 Covid cases, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) is confident football will return soon as the cases are not overwhelming.
Last week, Sulom, with support from Ministry of Health, tested over 200 players, officials, stewards and stadium workers.
Following last week’s tests, 72 players tested positive for coronavirus while the remaining 20 are officials including stadium workers, referees and stewards among others.
Sulom general Secretary Williams Banda was optimistic football will return in the country soon as they were jointly working with other stakeholders. G
“We will get direction from the government on the matter in accordance with the country’s positive rate. We [Sulom] will engage other stakeholders like Football Association of Malawi and Ministry of Health officials to map the way forward,” he said.
Banda also said football return hinges on the national football team completing its campaign in the Afcon qualifiers.
He also said some referees and officials in Central and Northern regions were yet to be tested.
Meanwhile, Football Players Association (FPA) General Secretary Ernest Mangani has hailed efforts being undertaken by the football authorities to enable the return of the sport.
“As a body that represents the welfare of our clients (players) we are not only happy but are also encouraged that calls to restart the game are seriously being handled at a higher level. Let us hope this tempo will continue; otherwise the players are the ones suffering,” he said.
FPA had issued threats to stage demonstrations across the country calling for football restart.
Sports was suspended in the country in January following the second wave of Covid.
Peter Fote is a Sports Journalist with huge experience in radio and Television reporting, production and presentation. He once worked with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and is currently working for Times Media Group.
