Be Forward Wanderers says the decision by Nyasa Big Bullets to sign promising left back Precious Sambani last week has reignited the two teams’ hostile rivalry which was slowly softening over the past years.
Bullets signed Sambani on a three year-deal from Namiwawa Madrid last week following the expiry of his two-year loan deal at Wanderers on 31 December, 2018.
Soon after confirming the development, Wanderers protested by saying the club was given the first option to buy the player for K1.5 million from the then parent club and they also added that the player joined Bullets whilst having a contract with the 2018 Fisd Cup winners.
The Nomads then lodged an official complaint to the Football Association of Malawi to try to stop Sambani from completing his move but days later, the club gave up saying the player was free to play for his new club.
Butao told MBC on Tuesday that his club decided to allow the player to join Bullets but warned that this has officially marked the end of their relationship which gained momentum in the past five to seven seasons.
“We had such a friendly rivalry with Bullets but their decision to sign Precious Sambani has but all ended our relationship and they have created a hostile rivalry which was slowly fading away from the scene over the past years. We have given up the player, let him play for them but the rivalry won’t be friendly anymore,” he was quoted by MBC.
He then explained the reason why their rivals are targeting their players.
“We have cream of players and this is why they are targeting our players. Sometimes, they are making us proud because it’s clear that we have quality players hence attracting their attention but this won’t be good for Malawian football because as you can see, the signing of Precious has created enmity between the two rival clubs which has to be looked into,” he said.
In 2014, Wanderers donated K200 000 for their neighbors to use for their CAF Champions League trip to Comoros Island against Fomboni FC and two years later, Bullets donated K500 000 to their rivals for CAF Champions League clash against A. S Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
On Tuesday, Wanderers supporters’ General Secretary Sam Mponda told the media that Wanderers supporters will organize demonstrations to show their anger over Bullets’ signing of Sambani.
“We will demonstrate and let me tell Bullets that the upcoming season will be full of violence because of what they have done by signing Precious Sambani from us,” he was quoted.
Sambani was a marvel to watch for the Nomads and it wasn’t a surprise to see him establishing himself as a key member in Ronny Van Geneugden’s Flames squad as he was the only player to play in each and every game ever since he made his debut.
He won the TNM Super League in his debut season with Wanderers before winning the Fisd Cup in the just ended season.
