‘Too much politics in Malawian football’ – Max Kapanda

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MTV Maxi Bullets

Not even Super League of Malawi (Sulom) can convince MTV Maxi Bullets owner Maxwell Kapanda to rescind his decision of pulling his team out of the ongoing TNM Super League as he has maintained his stand saying there is too much politics in Malawian football.

Kapanda told a local radio station on Thursday morning that whether Sulom intervenes or not, he has no intentions of reversing his decision saying politics has engulfed Malawian football such that Sulom favors the so called ‘big teams’ at the expense of small teams.

MTV Maxi Bullets
MTV Maxi Bullets announced leaving the super league.

“I am not changing my decision, period. I am done with football and I don’t want to get involved in football anymore. Malawian football is full of politics so it’s better to concentrate on other issues rather than wasting my money on football,” he said.

And when asked on the future of players who were playing for the team, he said:

“I don’t care at all. If the players suffer, it’s not my fault, it’s Sulom’ fault because I did nothing wrong in Lilongwe and I was willing to go back to play with Epac FC again but what I received from Sulom was a hefty punishment plus losing three points to Epac so I have had enough, I am no longer into football again, I am done for good,” he continued.

He also advised soccer administrators to start treating teams equally saying there is no such a thing as ‘big or small teams’ in Malawi.

“Smaller teams are being ill-treated by our administrators who always favor big teams and in the process, treating us like nobodies so if we are to have an improved league, teams must be treated equally,” he concluded.

Kapanda shocked the soccer fraternity when he stopped his side from travelling to Chitowe Stadium in Nkhotakota for two Super League fixtures against Mafco FC and Dwangwa United.

It followed a decision by Sulom to fine Max Bullets K700,000 for causing an abandonment of a league match between the former and Epac FC last month. Sulom claimed that the club violated article 21 (8) of Sulom’s Rules and Regulations.

As if that was not enough, Sulom slapped Kapanda and Max Coach Trevor Kajawa with a K150 000 fine each for committing various offences during the fracas that led to the abandonment of the match in the 19th minute when referee Leo Ngoleka, who had blown his whistle for a free kick to the home team, surprised everybody when he awarded Epac FC a goal against his earlier decision of awarding them a free kick.

And reacting to the charges, Kapanda withdrew his team from the league saying his efforts of developing football in Malawi are being frustrated by the soccer administrators who are always pulling him down.

Sulom then tried to convince Kapanda to rescind his decision by engaging him in a meeting but nothing fruitful came out of the meeting as he branded them ‘betrayers’ for not fulfilling what they promised him.

Kapanda then allowed his team to forfeit points to Mafco and Dwangwa United last week.

Max Bullets’ next assignment is against Moyale Barracks at home next week but with the latest development, the Mzuzu based Soldiers will be awarded free points as per Rules and Regulations governing Sulom.

Meanwhile, Sulom is yet to comment on the latest development.