Sulom summons Yona Malunga
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has summoned former Be Forward Wanderers supporters’ chairperson, Yona Malunga, for putting on a T-shirt bearing a campaign message during the Blantyre derby involving the Nomads and Nyasa Big Bullets on Saturday.
There was commotion at Kamuzu Stadium’s VIP Stand when some irate fans demanded that Malunga take off the T-shirt which had a message favouring Football Association of Malawi (Fam) President, Walter Nyamilandu.
Sulom had banned the use of campaign materials at football matches ahead of Fam elections set for December 14 in Mangochi.
Sulom General Secretary, Williams Banda, said Malunga would appear before a disciplinary hearing.
“We got reports on the matter from security agents and it appears he did not put on the banned T-shirt when entering the stadium. It is believed that he changed into the T-shirt in a toilet while inside the venue. This came as a surprise because all security agents were aware that Fam election campaign materials had been banned,” Banda said.
But Malunga said he was unaware of the ban and faulted Sulom for failing to sensitise supporters on the matter.
He said Sulom should have engaged supporters on the matter.
“I was not aware of the ban. There was no way I was going to wear a campaign T-shirt if I knew about the ban. This is an issue which involves supporters and the best way was to engage us,” Malunga said.
Battlelines in the elections have been drawn with Fam Vice President, James Mwenda, set to challenge his boss Nyamilandu who came out of his cocoon last week by declaring his intention to seek re-election.
Both Nyamilandu and Mwenda watched the derby and left the stadium before the end of the match under heavy security.
