FAM warns Mighty Wanderers

IN a twist of events Mighty Wanderers say they can not play the Standard Bank Knock Out final at Silver Stadium but rather at a neutral venue for the spirit of fairness to prevail.

But Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has warned the Nomads that they risk a fine for putting football and the sponsors of the cup into disrepute by trying to contravene the rules and regulations of the competition.

“All teams including Mighty Wanderers FC are aware of the rules and regulations which we gave them. This is not the first time, they know that last year the Standard Bank customers voted for the venue of the final and this year it will be the same,” he said.

“We would like to warn that anyone trying to bring confusion and tension ahead of the finals has no room in Malawi football and as Fam we would like to warn that they will be dealt with accordingly.”

Tuesday Nyirenda said they were expecting Standard Bank to announce which venue had been voted for.

With the Kamuzu and Civo stadiums closed, the bank’s customers had Silver Strikers, Nankhaka, Balaka, Kalulu, Dwangwa and Mzuzu stadiums to vote for.

But Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda told a local radio that Fam and sponsors Standard Bank should find a neutral venue for the final against Silver to promote fairness.

“Silver Stadium is the home for Silver Strikers. We can play anywhere except Silver Stadium. It’s only fair that the organisers of the competition should find a neutral venue for the final. As Wanderers we are not ready to play this final at Silver Stadium,” he said.

Yet in 2011, Wanderers won the Presidential Cup final against Mafco at their home Kamuzu Stadium.

Moyale also won the 2010 Standard Bank Cup at Mzuzu Stadium their home ground.

Ironically, Wanderers’ argument comes against a backdrop of the Nomads general secretary having last week said that they respect the rules and regulations of the competition that stipulate that only the organising committee can decide the venue of the semi-final while the final would be decided by a vote.

Bullets FC had expressed concerns over playing their semi-final game against Wanderers at Silver Stadium.

However, the Nomads had said they were ready to play the game anywhere.

“The tournament’s organisers are the ones who decide the venue of the semi-finals. As Wanderers we don’t’ have the choice of where to play the game.

“We are ready to play the game anywhere. If they say we should play at Kamuzu Stadium or Civo, we will play. If they say we should play at Balaka we will go there.

“Let’s not force government to re-open the stadium when the facility is not in good condition. To us the expenses of travelling cannot be an excuse to put people’s lives at risk,” Kanyenda told The Daily Times last week.