Nomads General Secretary resigns

By:  Andrew Cane Chilapondwa

The season kicks off next week but drama has already started within the local clubs, with the latest news being the resignation of Mighty Wanderers General Secretary Mike Butao over disagreements with Supporters Chairman Yamikani Kaliyapa.

According to the information made available to The Malawi Star, Butao has accused Kaliyapa of interfering with Technical Issues, the latest being forcing the executive committee to offer Kondwani Kumwenda a contract.

Kaliyapa has also been accused of demanding gate collections from Wanderer’s friendly match against Zomba United a week ago.

Furthermore, reports are indicating that Butao, who was given the mandate during Wanderer’s polls a month ago, is no longer speaking on behalf of the team.

When contacted, Kaliyapa laughed off the accusations saying if Butao wants to resign, he has to do it formally.

“The issue here is not about me demanding money from gate revenues collected during our friendly match against Zomba United, it’s about asking the executive to offer Kondwani Kumwenda a contract. He is an exception player and we can’t afford to lose him.”

If he (Butao) wants to resign, he must do it formally. What I know is that he is sulking because I told him the truth. We can’t lose Kumwenda,” said Kaliyapa.

After ascending to power, the supporters’ committee Chairman vowed not to interfere with managerial issues as he wanted to set an example of a good leader.

Kumwenda was shown an exit door by the executive committee hours before the closure of the local transfer market by the Super League of Malawi (Sulom), a move which did not go well with Kaliyapa’s led supporters executive committee.

An inside source has also confided with this publication that the Nomads’ Chairman George Chamangwana is aware of Butao’s resignation but he is yet to call for an emergency meeting in order to sort out this current in-house fighting.

Efforts to speak to Butao proved futile as his cell phone line went unanswered as we went to press.

Supporters of the big teams in Malawi have powers than the main executive committee. Some weeks ago, the battle was within Big Bullets family, resulting in the resignation of three main executive committee members.