Club licensing is the way to go-Mtanthiko

By: Andrew Cane Chilapondwa

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive member Daud Mtanthiko says Club licensing is the only way to go if Malawian football is to improve from the current to an international standard.

Mtanthiko made the remarks on Monday afternoon at Mpira Village in Chiwembe Technical Centre during the official awarding ceremony of Club Licenses to Six Super League teams who have fulfilled part of Club Licensing requirements.

Mighty Wanderers and Mzuni FC was the only clubs to have been awarded the licenses as they have scored the highest number of marks as compared to the remaining teams in the top flight.

He told Sports reporters that the current malpractices in Malawian football can only be put to an end if Club Licensing is fully implemented.

“Football is a very serious business and if we are to professionalize it, we need to fully implement club licensing. Issues ranging from contract disputes between players and clubs, managerial issues, players welfare and many more malpractices can only be put to an end if we work together and implement club licensing.”

“We are urging players to demand professional contracts from their clubs. We don’t want to experience contractual disputes between players and clubs in future, look at what is happening between Jafali Chande and Big Bullets, for how long are we going to experience this? It’s high time we wake up and turn things around,” he said.

He also revealed that failure by the clubs to fulfill Club Licensing requirements by Thursday, the FA will not allow them to take part in the upcoming 2016 soccer season. He also added that the association has the mandate to revoke the licenses from the clubs if they fail to implement what is being said in the licenses.

Despite scoring 71 percent, Blue Eagles were given a provisional license for failing to fulfill Sporting Criteria whilst Big Bullets, Silver Strikers and Dwanga United were given provisional licenses for failing to submit audited accounts, non-fulfillment of Sporting Criteria and failing to constitute a secretariat.

HOW TEAMS FAIRED:

 Green Range Clubs: Issued with Licenses-

1. Mighty Wanderers FC with 84 percent
2. Mzuni FC with 73 percent

Yellow Range Clubs: Issued with Provisional Licenses-

1. Blue Eagles FC with 71 percent (Issued with provisional license though their score is in green range due to non-fulfillment of Sporting Criteria)
2. Big Bullets FC with 69 percent (Need to submit audited accounts, constitute a secretariat and have a youth development program)
3. Silver Strikers FC with 60 percent (Need to work on fulfillment of Sporting Criteria and submission of accounts)
4. Dwangwa United FC with 56 percent (Need to attend to Sporting Criteria and submission of audited accounts)

Red Range Clubs: Not issued with Licenses and have been given until Thursday, 14^th April 2016 to work out on the documents. If they fulfill the requirements, they will either be given licenses or provisional licenses.

1. Moyale Barracks FC with 45 percent (Need to submit/work on the Sporting Criteria, submission of player contracts, appointment of CAF B Coach and provision of audited accounts)
2. Civo Service United FC with 35 percent (Need to submit/work on Sporting Criteria, Stadium Safety Certification, Submission of players contracts, Submission of audited accounts and Submission of Club Statuses)
3. Epac FC with 28 percent (Need to submit/work on Sporting Criteria, Infrastructure Criteria, Submission of players contracts, Submission of audited accounts and Legal Criteria)
4. Red Lions FC with 20 percent (Need to submit/work on Sporting Criteria, Infrastructure Criteria, Submission of players contracts and financial criteria)
5. Mafco FC with 20 percent (Need to work/submit on Sporting Criteria, Infrastructure Criteria, Submission of players contracts Submission of audited accounts and Legal Criteria)
6. Max Bullets FC with 20 percent (given up to mid-season break to work on their shortfalls)
7. Azam Tigers with 18 percent ( Need to work/submit on Sporting Criteria, Infrastructure Criteria, Submission of players contracts, Secretariat, Submission of bank account details, audited accounts and Club Constitution)
8. Kamuzu Barracks FC with 14 percent (Need to submit/work on Sporting Criteria, Infrastructure Criteria, players contracts, appointment of CAF B Coach and submission of audited accounts)

The FA will hold another meeting on Friday to consider granting licenses or provisional licenses to teams in Red Range upon meeting Club Licensing requirement.