Zampira February 2021 Edition
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Super League of Malawi Magazine ISSUE 5_FEBRUARY 2021 INSIDE 04 EDITOR’S NOTE 04 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: TIYA SOMBA BANDA 06 TAPPING MORE REVENUE: SULOM BANKS ON MPIRA TV, 8 SMS PROMO 07 HEALTH IS WEALTH: PLAYERS’ MEDICAL SCHEME ROLLS OUT 08 CAN THIS BE CIVO’S 12 SEASON? 09 SUPER LEAGUE EXPORTS TO EUROPE SWELL 10 FLAMES REWRITE AFCON HISTORY 11 CHITIPA UNITED CONFIDENT OF SKIPPING 9 11 14 RELEGATION 12 FOOTBALL IS BACK 10 14 BOKOSI READY TO FIGHT ON FOR GOLDEN BOOT 15 SUPER LEAGUE FIXTURES 3 Super League of Malawi Magazine ISSUE 5_FEBRUARY 2021 EDITOR’S NOTE he TNM Super League action returns on April 2 following government’s approval of Football Association of Malawi’s proposal on how to resume the game under new Covid-19T guidelines, such as playing without supporters and with not more than 100 people. Super League of Malawi (SULOM) would like to thank government for this gesture and we promise to ensure that all stakeholders adhere to the Covid-19 precautionary measures set by Ministry of Health. Even before the Presidential Task Force on Covid- 19 gave us the greenlight to resume the league, we had already started preparations for the resumption of football. These included testing of players and others involved in matches organisation such as referees, stewards and those working at match venues. The idea of conducting the tests before the league restarts was to ensure that if anyone tests positive, they should have enough time to recover before the action returns. Some tested positive for Covid-19 and have since recovered. They will be ready to return to action on April 2. This has ensured that there is fair play for all teams as the TNM Super League returns. SULOM would like to urge all stakeholders Design & Layout: to ensure that they adhere to the Covid-19 Mayamiko Tambula protocols in order to protect the game of football. Let me also urge clubs to engage their Super League of Malawi (SULOM) supporters in the campaign to spread BOX E66 Covid-19 precautionary measures such as Post Dot Net practicing social distancing, staying at home Blantyre, Malawi and sanitising. WILLIAMS BANDA SULOM GENERAL SECRETARY 4 Super League of Malawi Magazine ISSUE 5_FEBRUARY 2021 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TIYA SOMBA BANDA adies and gentlemen it gives me pleasure to be Super League of Malawi (SULOM) president in these times. Though the Covid-19 is still causing havoc, we have persevered and achieved more than expected. When we were ushered into office over a year ago, we promised to run the league based on six pillars. LThree of those six pillars were maximising revenue, leveraging on technology to advance football and engaging supporters. The launching of Mpira Television which is on Malawi Digital Broadcast Network Limited’s Kiliyekiliye decoder is a milestone in ensuring that clubs earn something from television rights. Let me take this opportunity to ask clubs to mobilise their supporters to buy Kiliyekiliye decoders, because the more they do that, the more the clubs will earn from the subscription. SULOM’s effort to earn more revenue has not stopped there. We have also ventured into an SMS promotion that will see clubs getting a share from the proceeds of the promotion. Actually, the Mpira TV and the SMS promotion are killing two birds with one stone. Since football will be played without supporters, it is only through the Mpira TV and the SMS Promotion that we can bring action to the fans and at the same time engage them. When we were elected we also promised to improve the welfare of players. The newly-launched Malawi Medical Aid Society (MASM) players’ medical scheme will go a long way in improving the welfare of the players. Gone are the days when TNM Super League players found themselves stranded when they needed medical services. I would be making a big mistake if I did not recognise Football Association of Malawi’s role in fulfilling these promises. It is through the perfect working relationship between FAM and SULOM that we are able to fulfil these promises. At the end of the day, Malawi football bar is raised as evidenced by the Malawi National Football Team’s qualification to 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals to be hosted by Cameroon next year. May I therefore, take this opportunity to congratulate the Flames players and technical panel for Raising the Bar. 5 Super League of Malawi Magazine ISSUE 5_FEBRUARY 2021 MDBNL CEO Denis Chirwa and FAM first vice-president Jabbar Alide during the agreement signing TAPPING MORE REVENUE: Sulom banks on Mpira TV, SMS promo ULOM says the newly- Mpira TV will ensure that to buy Kiliyekilye decoders and Sports and information launched Mpira TV supporters enjoy the and subscribe for the played a role in facilitating which is on Malawi matches in the comfort of channel. the deal with MDBNL which Digital Broadcasting their homes” is a public entity. “The more the supporters SNetwork’s Kiliyekiliye decoder, The launch of Mpira buy the decoders and Chief Executive Officer for will go a long way in unlocking TV follows a consultation subscribe for the channel, MDBNL, Denis Chirwa, says Malawi football’s potential. meeting between FAM, the more clubs will earn his network is ready to bean The television which is on SULOM and clubs own how from the subscription.” two matches at time on channel 122, was switched on best to handle television Mpira TV. Apart from the revenue on March 27 for test viewing rights deals. from the subscription, FAM has angaged MBC before it goes full throttle in Unlike in the past when clubs will also expose their and Mibawa televisions to the coming days once footbal TV rights deals were based players to international produce the content. restarts on April 2. on free-to-air model, the markets, thereas building In an effort to maximise SULOM president Tiya stakeholders settled for the local football brand. revenue base, SULOM has Somba Banda said the league subscription-based model. The Mpira TV also launched an SMS runners are excited with the Somba Banda said clubs establishment is also aimed Promotion that will enable launch of the pay television. will now have a chance to at helping government fans to predict match He said: “At last we now earn something through the fight Covid-19 by scores, vote for player of have Malawi football on a subscription. encouraging people to stay the month as well as access latest update on the league. national television. “This is why we would home and watch matches. “All this is in line with like to encourge clubs to “With supporters not Malawi Government our manifesto promises,” mobilise their supporters allowed into stadiums, the through the ministries of explains Somba Banda. 6 Super League of Malawi Magazine ISSUE 5_FEBRUARY 2021 HEALTH IS WEALTH: Players’ Medical Scheme rolls out MASM CEO Sydney Chikoti (L) and FAM president Walter Nyamilandu sealing the deal o many players’ careers have ended He said: “The signing of this contract We will now explore the other two.” abruptly due to poor medical gives peace and total assurance to our services. Examples are plenty of football players that from today they can MASM Chief Executive Officer Sydney players ending up crippled because now fully commit themselves on the pitch Chikoti, a football administrator himself Sthey never got the best medical service knowing that their health is well covered. for TNM Super League outfit Mighty when they got injured while on club duty. Tigers, is aware of the challenges players “Our players will now stop begging face when they are injred. But long at last, the football players can for help in order to get decent medical concentrate on their careers knowing that treatment whenever need arises. Chikoti said MASM wants to ease when they need medical services, they are football players’ suffering when they are “What this means is that our players fully covered. injured. will be guaranteed to get first class This follows Football Association of professional medical attention by “We want to partner with football for a Malawi (FAM), Super League of Malawi qualified practitioners. I am a very happy very long time and this will be a long-life (SULOM) and Medical Aid Society of person,” he said. deal. But for a start it will be a 10-year Malawi (MASM) partnership on a 10-year partnership reviewed every year. deal to provide Medical Cover to football Sulom President Tiya Somba Banda players. said the signing of the deal fulfils SULOM’s “Our expectation is that we will get manifesto promise of humanising the more visibility and understanding of our The scheme, called Econo- Sport is player. services not just among football players worth K18 million a year and will cover but the entire football fraternity,” said He said: “It’s sad when we look at the 800 players from the TNM Super League Chikoti. clubs, Women’s Regional Leagues and players’ illness cases we had in the past, Nationals teams. because we failed our players on access Football Players Association President to medical care. We did not look at their Jimmy Zakazaka thanked MASM, FAM and For the cover to take off, FAM has paid humanity aspects but just their on-field SULOM for the initiative. the premiums on behalf of the clubs and exploits. players of K9 million a year while MASM “This is a big step in improving the will contribute the other half. “This deal moves us towards fulfilling players welfare. Most clubs are struggling our holistic view of players welfare not in financially to pay their players and FAM President Walter Nyamilandu isolated packages where we want them to can’t manage to cover medical issues a Manda says the Medical Cover is aimed at have professional contracts with Medical situation that exposed our members,” he improving the players’ welfare.