FDH Bank Premiership defending champions Mighty Wanderers imposed sanctions on their players and technical panel members when they lost 2-1 to Blue Eagles at Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe City last month.
The defeat to Eagles ended Wanderers’ hopes of finishing top of the FDH Bank Premiership in the first half of the season as Eagles sealed top spot with 31 points from 15 matches.
It was their fourth consecutive loss across all competitions, having lost 7-1 on aggregate to Simba Sports Club of Tanzania in the Caf Champions League and 2-1 to Ekhaya Football Club in the Airtel Top 8 Cup final.
The losses angered the club’s management, which reportedly took disciplinary action on players and technical staff.
Inside sources at the club confided in Times Sport that the players and technical panel members agreed to the salary cut during a meeting which was held immediately after their defeat to Eagles.
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“The players and technical staff agreed that their perks be deducted for one week. Everyone accepted. We hope the performance will improve in the second round,” the official said.
However, the source said it was agreed that their perks would be refunded once the performance improves in the last half of the season.
“The board assured the players that they would be refunded if they improve. The agreement was done in the best interest of the club,” the source said.
However, Wanderers director of football David Kanyenda was yet to respond to our questionnaire as we went to press yesterday.
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Fifa rules and regulations state that a club cannot cut, or withhold, professional players’ base salary due to poor performance.
However, a club can deduct performance-based bonuses.
Currently, Wanderers are third on the FDH Bank Premiership log table with 29 points from 15 matches, one point behind second-placed FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
Fourth-placed Silver Strikers have the same number of points.
Wanderers have only lost two matches in the FDH Bank Premiership this season.
