Africa-Press – Malawi. Football Players Association (FPA) has expressed dismay with Football Association of Malawi (Fam) for issuing licences to clubs that failed to pay signing-on fees to their players. FPA General Secretary Ernest Mangani said issuing licences to such clubs dilutes football’s governance system.
“These clubs did not deserve to have licences. It’s close to a month now since the TNM Super League kicked off and we expect all clubs to sort out payment issues with their players. Issuance of licences to clubs that failed to pay their players means Fam is not walking the talk.
“We are concerned that Fam went ahead to issue licences to clubs that owe their players millions of Kwacha. This is despite their promises against doing so. What worries us most is that such conduct may end up making some clubs taking the matter lightly,” Mangani said. He called on Fam to enforce its own regulations so that footballers enjoy their rights as club employees.
“We also have cases of unfair conditions of service in players’ contracts and unreasonable delays in paying remuneration to players by most Super League teams. Authorities are aware of such malpractices. It is sad that they allow this to continue happening. We are currently engaging Fam on the matter.
“If we do not get the expected response, we will seek remedial assistance through appropriate means, including petitions and naming and shaming the clubs. We are not doing this to hurt anyone in the football family. All we want is to protect the rights of our members and also to ensure that clubs comply with the rules at all times,” Mangani said.
Fam Club Licencing and Compliance Manager Casper Jangale said they had a mutual agreement with the clubs. “We continue to follow rules and regulations of club licencing. There was a mutual agreement between clubs that are yet to fulfil contractual agreements and their players. We didn’t just wake up to give these clubs a license to play.
“There is an article in club licencing requirements that allows a player and his club to agree on how they can fulfill a contractual agreement. We need to meet FPA and discuss such issues,” Jangale said. Mighty Wanderers Board Secretary Humphrey Mvula acknowledged remaining with balances for their new signings.
“We agreed with the new players about the period for settling their outstanding balances. We are in the process of ensuring that all our players have been paid. We agreed with the players on the time frame for payment of the signing-on fees,” Mvula said.
Wanderers signed seasoned stars such as Chiukepo Msowoya, Muhammad Sulumba and Miracle Gabeya in their quest to lift silverware. Clubs such as Sable Farming, Wanderers, Rumphi United, Mighty Waka Waka Tigers and Ekwendeni are yet to finish paying players their signing-on fees.
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