Tag Archives: Mighty Be forward Wanderers

Malawi, Sports

Hypocrisy of Malawi’s Tonse Alliance government as football returns: empty stadia, fully packed political rallies

Maneno Chimulala
Big Bullets players: Good old days

In Malawi life is slowly coming back to normal. Schools have just been opened a week ago and busses are carrying passengers while observing social distance and other Covid-19 preventive measures. Political parties, including the ruling Tonse Alliance partners—UTM and Malawi Congress Party (MCP)—are also holding political rallies as usual without following their own covid-19 preventive measures.

Ironically, in the ‘wise and dynamic’ thinking of Lazarus Chakwera and Saulos Klaus Covid-19 can only spread at football stadia if what the presidential taskforce  hinted on football return is anything to go by.

The Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 and the National Disaster Preparedness and Relief Committee on Thursday gave the national football team a go ahead to participate in Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and Fifa World Cup qualifiers under strict conditions, including playing matches without supporters.

According to the Task Force the resumption of the Malawi football season will wait for a review of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 next Thursday.

Resuming football matches with empty stadia will mean nothing to the plight that Malawi football players have been going through since April following a ban on football due to Covid-19 outbreak. As at now, Mighty Wanderers has partied ways with Be Forward Company and they will obviously survive on gate collections if football returns.

Ntopwa FC, Karonga Unitetd, Chitipa United, and many other temas in the country solely depends on gate collections for survival in the country’s elite TNM Super League. In short, only three civilian teams appear to have stable sponsorship: Nyasa Big Bullets, Silver Strikers and Civo United.

Nyasa Manufacturing Company also slashed players’ monthly payments in response to the losses made due to Covid-19 outbreak.

In view of the above, resuming football with empty stadia is nonsensical taking into account the driving behind football fans and clubs owners to have football returned. Fans want to watch matches and get entertained while clubs wants to make money through gate collections so that they can have something to pay players.

And here we have a government that is responding football lovers and clubs outcry by planning resumption without spectators. Political parties, schools and transport sector are adhering to less stringent demands yet you are imposing strict requirements before reopening of stadiums. Usawi uchichi?

As Silver Strikers supporters chairperson Kingsley Malaya puts it, Malawi football clubs will continue sailing in financial turmoil if the government sticks to its hypocrisy.

“There are double standards. Look at other parts of society that are opening. People are sitting next to each other in buses, crowding in political rallies, but even social distance in open air stadiums is not being allowed, that’s unfair,” says Malaya.

He added: “I think it’s going to be very difficult for any football club to operate without fans for any period of time because they rely on gate takings as revenue. Players have been suffering due to the economic impact of not playing football. But it is good news to hear that the Flames is now starting preparations,” said Yona Malunga, a long serving staunch supporter of Mighty Wanderers F.C.

Two weeks ago, Sports Minister Ulemu Msungama said all things being equal, sports could return by last week.

“I want to assure the sports fraternity that we have already worked on everything for the safe return of sports. We are also supposed to provide policy direction. There are some grey areas here and there that require fine-tuning but the bigger part has already been done. We will announce the dates sooner or later,” Msungama said.

In its Sports roadmap, the ministry outlined several preventive measures to be followed by sports associations.

Some of the measures are testing of players and coaches, disinfection of sports venues and quarantine of athletes.

The measures also require that all venues have special rooms for isolation for those suspected to be Covid-19 positive.

Athletes are also not allowed to use public transport. The ministry also proposed that fans could return to the stadium but with strict preventive measures contrary to what the Presidential Task Force told the public yesterday.

Malawi

Bitter pill for Blantyre football fans

Richard Kayenda
Big Bullets in action

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—As it is already clear that the stadium projects for Mighty Be Forward Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets will be discontinued under the new Tonse Alliance government, Minister of Youth and Sports Ulemu Msungama has also hinted at abandoning plans to build a new stadium at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre, a project which was proposed by the previous Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regime.

Msungama, who is not in good terms with Football Association of Malawi (FAM) Walter Nyamilandu, says his ministry will demolish Kamuzu Stadium to build a new one should his ministry’s proposal be approved by relevant authorities and stakeholders.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, Msungama said there was no logic in building a new stadium—projected to cost K110 billion— barely a kilometre away from an existing one.

 “My suggestion, which I will pursue with relevant authorities and stakeholders, is that we have Kamuzu Stadium which is historically an icon and the way forward should be to demolish it and build a modern facility at the same place. After all, it is centrally located,” said Msungama.

“What will be the purpose of building a new stadium when we have another one just a stone throw away which is in a dilapidated state when we can demolish it and build another one, thereby saving resources?” he queried.

His proposal obviously means Blantyre will have no stadium for the whole period of reconstruction of the Kamuzu Stadium, a development which is likely to attract furry from the football fans in the Commercial City where two football giants Mighty Wanderers and Big Bullets is their base.

However, football analyst Charles Nyirenda has agreed with the minister arguing it will cut costs.

“I fully agree with his sentiments. It will cut costs using the same space where Kamuzu Stadium is located to build another stadium.Further to that, Kamuzu Stadium premises are centrally located and the majority of people just walk there, it’s also spacious.

“Moreover, the imaginary Njamba Stadium scheme was a political gimmick. Just from the blue people were promised the moon and in the end, the project wasn’t on the official government infrastructure development agenda. No wonder, the project is just fizzling out the way it popped up,” said Nyirenda.

But another football analyst Humphrey Mvula suggested that before proceeding with the new thinking, the minister should consult  his Cabinet colleagues to appreciate the ramifications of  his decision.

He said: “This is taking into consideration that the old stadium was declared as a monument to be preserved as a heritage. Besides, the social /political implications of having no stadium in Blantyre while a new stadium is being reconstructed will be difficult to mitigate for the people of Southern Region.”

In January this year, the Peter Mutharika administration announced that it had shelved plans to construct a new stadium in Blantyre, opting to prioritise stadia projects for privately-owned teams—Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers.

Government did not allocate funding for the project in the 2019/20 budget. It has also not allocated funds for the same in the current provisional four-month budget.

The project was last allocated funding in the 2018/19 Budget when it got K500 million while in the 2017/18 Budget, it got K1.5 billion for designs and start-up work.

However, there is nothing on the ground so far.

Malawi

Tough time for Malawi footballers

Maneno Chimulala

Written by Our Reporter

Big Bullets in action

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Players of Mighty Be Forward Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets have petitioned the Football Players Union (FPU), seeking their intervention in players’ welfare as clubs’ officials continue to effect salary cuts in the face of the covid-19 spike.

According to the players, the officials are tampering with the players’ salaries without following the proper procedures.

FPU president, Ernest Mangani, told The Daily Times that they have received several complaints from the two clubs’ players on the matter.

 “The players indeed approached us for assistance and we have taken up the matter. We are arranging to meet Bullets and Wanderers officials to hear from them.

“We regret the manner in which the two clubs are treating their players on the salary cuts issue. We find this unprocedural and we are taking it up to protect our members. No law allows teams to effect salary cuts without players’ consent,” Mangani said as quoted in the paper.

According to the paper, Wanderers General Secretary, Victor Maunde, expressed ignorance on the matter.

“We have not been furnished with any complaint yet and I cannot comment on something I have not seen. I need time to establish facts of the matter,” Maunde said.

But Maunde confirmed that the Nomads made a 60 per cent cut to their players’ salaries following financial challenges that the team is going through after Be Forward reduced sponsorship.

Bullets Chief Administration Officer, Albert Chigoga, faulted his players for taking the matter to a third party.

“Bullets is a professional club that has procedures for presenting grievances. Going to a third party before engaging club leadership is unprofessional and not in keeping with our norms,” Chigoga said.

Local clubs continue to suffer from effects of sports suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kick off of the 2020 season was halted on March 20 as the government battled to put coronavirus under control.

The suspension has crippled clubs financially as they heavily depend on gate collections to sustain their operations.

source: The Daily Times

Malawi

BB, Wanderers monopolizing Malawi government’s pulse

Maneno Chimulala
BB, Wanderers monopolizing Malawi government’s pulse

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Be Forward Wanderers continue to bask in the glory of politics, a game of numbers. The two teams, that have a stable sponsorship from well established companies, Nyasa Manufacturing Company and Be Forward Company, are continuing monopolizing the country’s public pulse courtesy of regional politics as their fellow teams are in financial abyss.

In the run up to 2019 Tripartite Elections, Bullets and Wanderers were promised a stadium each by the country’s President Peter Mutharika in a bid to solicit votes from supporters of the country’s football powerhouses.  

Mutharika’s pledge attracted mixed reactions: some faulted the president for his decision to have public funds spent on teams that are owned by private companies while many football fanatics applauded the gesture.

However, considering the numbers attached to the two teams, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) also spoke in support of the stadium projects when responding to the national budget statement in parliament last year.

As the president was presiding over the ground-breaking ceremony of the two clubs’ stadium project construction in Blantyre on Saturday, Mutharika made yet another donation of two big busses to the two teams.

The President’s gesture followed a request from the two clubs’ officials earlier despite government removing duty on importation of buses for TNM Super League and netball clubs.

Mutharika first laid the foundation stones for Bullets Stadium at Zingwangwa near Moneymen along Chikwawa Road before proceeding to Kanjedza Forest near Blantyre Teachers College for the Nomads’ stadium, before proceeding to Nyambadwe ground in Ndirande for a launch rally.

Speaking during the rally, Mutharika who said he used to play as a centre-half, said he is keen to see football developing in the country.

 “When I came here last year I promised to build the two stadiums for the two clubs. When I make a promise I fulfill it,” he said.

The President said Bullets and Wanderers deserved the government’s help, having produced top players such as Kinnah Phiri, Lawrence Waya, Jack Chamangwana, Yassin Osman, Chance Vinny Gondwe, Kennedy Malunga, Walter Nyamilandu, Joseph Kamwendo and Peter Mponda.

But much as the president’s gesture deserves much applause from the citizenry, it is also proper to bring to the attention of the president challenges some teams in the top flight league are going through.

Recently, some TNM Super league teams disclosed that they were failing to pay salaries for players due to their failure to generate revenue after kick off of the season was halted in the wake of Covid-19.

Karonga United Chairperson Mathews Tulombolombo said suspension of games has put them in an awkward position as they cannot generate revenue from gate collections.

“We need to source about K2 million for players and technical staff members’ salaries. We have been very open about our situation and all stakeholders know that we are deep in the red. We engaged our players and technical panel on the state of our finances.

“We had reserved some money to cater for our preparations in March, hoping that we would raise more after the season kicks off. As I speak, we do not have anything in our coffers. This has forced some of us to use our personal resources for some of the team’s needs,” Tulombolombo was quoted as saying.

Ntopwa FC owner Isaac ‘Jomo’ Osman also spoke of tough times in the absence of games.

“We are struggling to pay our players. We need a rescue package now. Paying players’ salaries does not come cheap. Something must be done,” he said.

Other unsponsored teams such as Tigers, Chitipa United and Mzuzu Warriors have also said they are finding it difficult to pay their players.

Tigers Chairperson, Sydney Chikoti, said they are working on other means of sourcing funds to pay their players.

“Life is indeed unbearable without revenue from gate collections. There is hardly any money for payment of players’ dues. We are trying to explore other avenues of raising funds because we have an obligation to pay our players.

“But our players know what we can afford to pay and we expect them to be patient. Life could have been better had the season kicked off,” Chikoti said.

In view of the above narrations of clubs’ leaders, donating busses to teams that are already enjoying stable sponsorship sounds illogical, irrational, unreasonable, crazy, awkward (you can pick your own terminology), and it is a clear demonstration of regional politics in which both Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) thrives on.

Having promised stadiums for the two teams, the president would now consider helping the other teams who are deep in financial problems as they do not have a sponsor to rely upon. But alas, politics is a game of numbers and on 23rd June 2020 Malawians are going to vote in a fresh poll. Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Be Forward Wanderers have a huge following that even the opposition parties cannot dare opposing the Mutharika’s misplaced pledges.

Sports

Wanderers say goodbye to CAF Champions league

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Mighty Be Forward Wanderers went out of CAF Champions League leg after they lost 1-2 to AS Vita of DRC in second leg of the preliminary round at Bingu National stadium in Area 48 in Lilongwe on Wednesday.

AS Vita are through to the next round on 6-1 aggregate after they won their first game at home in Kinshasa 4-0.

The jam packed stadium was treated to a very entertaining encounter and Wanderers sent false hopes to the home crowd in the opening minutes of the game before the visitors used their experience to punish them.

Vita went into lead in the 19th minute when Nakum Mundele planted Ounar Sidire’s pass eluding helpless Wanderers goalie, Richard Chipuwa.

Wanderers Captain Joseph Kamwendo nearly pulled one back from a free on the edge of the penalty box but his effort hit the cross with Vita keeper, Nelson Lukong beaten.

Wanderers was on the receiving end with Sidire doing the solo running on the right flank and their midfield was left wanting and this forced stand in coach Bob Mpinganjira to rest out of form, Felix Zulu for veteran Essau Kanyenda three minutes to half time.

AS Vita returned to dressing room with a 1-0 lead which silenced the home crowd.

The second half saw Wanderers coming in with fresh ideas and started playing football attacking football.

Three minutes into this half, Wanderers striker Peter Wadabwa levelled the scores after nodding home Precious Sambani’s cross from the left flank in the northern goal.

Vita made double substitution in 61st minute they brought in Baoyi Buyombe and Manbanzikila Gribreau for Muzungu Lukombe and Sidire respectively.

In the 74th minute, Vita’s Ngonda Muzinga’s curved free kick was parried for safety by Wanderers goal minder, Chipuwa.

Vita’s substitute Buyombe stretched the lead to 2-1 in the 77th minute when he eluded advancing Wanderers keeper, Chipuwa after he was put through by Moloko Ducapec.

Wadabwa could have levelled the scores in the 81st minute when his grounder was well tamed by goalie, Lukong.

Wanderers stand in coach, Mpingangira praised his charges for their fighting spirit.

He said Wanderers played far much better at home as compared to the first game in DRC.

“We have learnt a lot by participating in the competition and hope next time we will have to get prepared well,” Mpingangira explained.

AS Vita Coach, Ibenge Florent admitted that the encounter was tough and Wanderers played well.

“Wanderers has a good player in Jersey number 9 ( Wadabwa) he was good today and gave our defence tough time,” he singled out.

Sports, TNM Super League

FIFA president salutes new Malawi football champions, “Mighty Be Forward Wanderers”

MaraviPost

Mighty Be Forward Wanderers players

Lilongwe, Malawi, December 25 – President of world soccer governing body, FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has saluted Malawi top football league champions, Mighty Be Forward Wanderers, for winning the TNM Super League after 11 years of title drought.

In a statement addressed to Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu, released on December 22, Infantino said he is pleased with Wanderers’ feat. Continue reading FIFA president salutes new Malawi football champions, “Mighty Be Forward Wanderers” →

Entertainment, Malawi, Top News

No selling tickets at stadium gate – FAM

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(Maravi)-The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) on Tuesday told soccer lovers that it will not allow the selling of gates ticket for the upcoming Carlsberg Cup finals at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe.

The move is in a bid to allow for smooth entry into the stadium for Saturday’s Carlsberg Cup final match between Malawi’s arch rivals Mighty Be Forward Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets.

The development is a response to match day entry congestion and following the deaths of patrons that died on July 6 during the country’s Independence Day celebration following a stampede.

The association said that the main gates of the outer perimeter will be cordoned off and that everybody passing through this area will have to have match day tickets.

Limbani Cliff Matola, Fam’s Commercial & Marketing Director said to ensure that fans have easy access to the stadium in anticipation of traffic congestion on match day, fans are advised to consider taking the following routes when traveling to the stadium;

He said to ensure that fans have easy access to the stadium in anticipation of traffic congestion on match day; fans are advised to consider taking the following routes when traveling to the stadium.

“People are encouraged to observe single file queuing as they get into the stadium. FAM, in collaboration with Carlsberg Malawi, is working very hard to deliver the best and most memorable football experience in recent times. And this is our joint promise.

“Tickets will be sold in advance and will be available in all strategic selling points in Lilongwe City from the morning of Tuesday 5th September. We have decided to sell tickets in advance to provide opportunity to many football lovers to easily access the tickets before the match day. The incentive is that all people who will buy the tickets in advance will buy them at much cheaper price than on match day,” Matola said.

Those coming from Dedza, Bunda and Likuni directions should use the by-pass road that go up to Mchinji round about and buy there tickets from Gateway Mall Car Park and proceed to the stadium. Those from Mponela, Dowa, Salima and Kanengo areas are to buy their tickets from Area 18 filling station and proceednto the stadium and those from Area 25, Area 49, Gulliver and surrounding areas are to buy their tickets at Area 49 junction close to the Chinese Village.

Matola therefore disclosed that advance tickets are being sold at Likuni filling station, Kawale filling station, Area 23 filling station, Kafoteka filling station, Area 18 filling station, Area 25 Chipiku Stores, Gateway Mall car park, Lilongwe Game Stores car Park, Area 49 Junction, Bingu National Stadium and all FDH Bank branches in Lilongwe City.

The price for the tickets is as follows; Covered/Open Stands at K2,000 advance K3,000 match day; VIP Stands K7,500 advance K9,000 match day; Corporate Box – East (for 10 people) K80,000 advance K95,000 match day; Corporate Box – West (for 10 people) K100,000 advance K120,000 match day;

Car Pass is at K500.

Sports, TNM Super League

Khumbo Ng’ambi’s hat-trick sends Mighty Be Forward Wanderers into Airtel Top Eight Trophy finals

Ufulu

Mighty Be Forward Wanderers players

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Mighty Be Forward Wanderers on Saturday came from 2-0 down to beat Moyale Barracks 3-2 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in the prestigious Airtel Top Eight trophy semifinals.

The game started on a high note with both teams displaying marvelous football. Moyale had hopes in the likes of Boyboy Chima, Khuda Muyaba, Dan Katunga, and Timothy Nyirenda, all of whom are enjoying top form. Continue reading Khumbo Ng’ambi’s hat-trick sends Mighty Be Forward Wanderers into Airtel Top Eight Trophy finals →

Top News

Airtel Top Eight Trophy semis: Moyale promises fireworks as Wanderers vow to maintain record of winning ?

Maravi Post correspondent

Moyale players

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)— Bingu National Stadium is expected to turn into a boiling pot of emotions this Saturday as cup specialists Mighty Be Forward Wanderers, takes on Moyale Barracks Football Club in the semi-finals of the Airtel Top Eight Trophy.

As usual the football fraternity in the country, has been gripped with frenzied football fever, with both teams promising to display their best performances to cruise to the finals of the prestigious trophy.
Having failed to win any cup in 2016, after it conceded defeat in the finals of Presidential cup, at the hands of Nyasa Big Bullets, Airtel trophy seems to be Moyale’s best chance of silverware this season. This is because the TNM Super League appears to be out of Moyale’s grasp, going by their records in the league.
However, the Kaning’ina lions, as the team is popularly known, have a daunting task to achieve whatever they are planningthis Saturday, as they are meeting a team which has a clean record of grabbing cup games
Moyale however, also has a good record in cup games. Despite failing to lift the Super League trophy since its inception, the team grabbed some other prestigious trophies in the country.
Moyale were also responsible for Wanderers’ exit in the Presidential cup last year.
Speaking to media this week, assistant coach for Moyale Barracks FC, Charles Kamanga, confidently challenged the Nomads that his charges will halt the former’s history in inaugural cups by playing a do-or-die game.
“Moyale Football Club, will put to an end that record, because we are aiming for victory come Saturday,” he said.
The Lions of Kaning’ina have so far, maintained the record of scoring many goals in the quarter finals, beating fellow soldiers 6-2 on aggregate.
However, Mighty Be Forward Wanderers’ Team Manager, Steve Madeira, said his side was preparing well, and eagerly waits to show the Lions of Kaning’ina why they have the unbeatable record in cup games.
“We are prepared in all fronts, mentally and physically. This is a huge game, and we are not the type of team that belittles any game.
“As much as our previous games with Moyale have never been easy, we are prepared to show them what we are made of,” said Madeira.
He added that Saturday’s game will be an opportunity for the Nomads to revenge previous humiliations they suffered after losing to the soldiers.
He further challenged that while Moyale Barracks FC will be looking forward to demolishing his team’s record of victory, his side will use their every ability to stop the Lions of Kaning’ina from inflicting another loss on the Nomads’ record of losses against the soldiers.
Wanderers beat Azam Tigers 3-1 on aggregate to book a place in the semi finals.
Another semi final is between Kamuzu Barracks and Silver Strikers.