* Karonga United finally fulfill fixture they intended to withdraw from
* They actually led 1-0 by half time through a goal scored in the 19th minute
* Lost 3-5 after post-match penalties
* They beat the Nomads twice in the TNM Super League 1st and 2nd second rounds
By Duncan Mlanjira
Karonga United, who threatened to withdraw from the FDH Bank Cup after Football Association of Malawi (FAM) shifter their Round of 32 match from Karonga Stadium to Mzuzu, finally fulfilled the fixture in which they put up a gallant fight by losing 3-5 through post-match penalties.
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Karonga United, who beat the Nomads twice in the TNM Super League 1st and 2nd second rounds, actually led 1-0 by half time through a goal scored in the 19th minute by Anthony Mfune before Francis Mkonda equalized six minutes after the break.
During the penalties, Karonga’s Josiah Duwa’s spot kick was saved goalkeeper Richard Chipuwa while Wanderers scored all their five attempts through captain Alfred Manyozo Jnr, Stanley Sanudi, Vincent Nyangulu, Babatunde Adepoju and Francis Mlimbika.
Karonga scored through Anthony Mfune, Khumbo Msowoya and Adeleke Kolawole.
The Nomads have qualified for the Round of 16 of the FDH Bank Cup, a huge relief for them having been beaten 0-2 by Crocodiles of Karonga at home Kamuzu Stadium in the first round of the TNM Super League before going down 0-1 at Karonga Stadium for the second round.
Karonga Stadium is a dreaded venue for visitors as evidenced by some top teams having come back with battle scars and when FAM shifted the fixture to Mzuzu Stadium, the team became incensed and announced its plans to withdraw from the K25 million winners’ prize money cup.
Total sponsorship is at K90 million
In shifting the match, FAM indicated that the stadium’s perimeter fence and main access gates were vandalised during Karonga United TNM Super League match against Silver Strikers that ended controversially.
Through the damages, FAM indicated that it would make it impossible for the match organisers to protect the players and technical officials, control access into the stadium and enforce CoVID-19 preventive measures as per the FAM Club Licensing regulations.
When Karonga United wrote a scathing letter to FAM, saying they were deeply enraged and withdrawing from the cup, the Football governing body reminded Karonga United that they signed a commitment to adhere to Club Licensing regulations as well as the 2021 FDH Cup Rules and Regulations.
Coronavirus alert
FAM warned Karonga United to respect the decision to change the match venue and underlined it was done in the best interest of the competition, saying “withdrawing from the Competition at this level is not allowed”.
According to the 2021 FDH Cup Rules and Regulations, if any team withdrawals from the competition at national level, it shall be liable to a fine K2 million and in addition, the team shall be banned from participating in any competition organised by FAM or any of its affiliate bodies — including the TNM Super League — for a period of one year.
In the letter from the club’s chairman, Mathews Tulombolombo had said there are many fans in Karonga “who are customers with FDH Bank in Karonga — they need also to benefit from such kind of initiatives” and threatened that “no matter how small we are, we have powers to mobilize our people for a cause”.
The fracas that followed during the match against Silver Strikers
Meanwhile, Northern Region Referees Committee also wrote Super League of Malawi (SULOM) that to announce its boycott to officiate matches at Karonga Stadium, saying they fear for their lives.
In the letter, the refs refered to the incident that took place between Karonga United and Silver Strikers at Karonga Stadium where the designated match officials, Mercy Kaira, Samuel Fudzulani, Harrison Simbeye and Stammy Msukwa were beaten.
The refs also cite previous incidents not mentioned in the communication to SULOM but which were discussed at their committee meeting where “the resolution was made that there is no security/safety in most games — the latest being mentioned herein”.
Ref Mercy Kaira broke down in tears
Thus the referees boycott Karonga Stadium until SULOM addresses their security and safety issues, saying if the situation is left unattended to urgently, Referees risk losing their lives.
There had been reports of harassment on visiting teams and intimidation of refs at Karonga Stadium and in the match against Silver Strikers, fans reportedly hurled insults at centre referee, Mercy Kaira to the extent she broke down in tears.
