With just 48 hours left before the much-anticipated old-aged Blantyre Derby kicks off, fevers have started to erupt in teams, match organizers, and officiation personnel as debates continue to rumble on who should take charge of the game.
Super League of Malawi, Sulom on Wednesday released the set of referees to handle the games in week 5 of the season, and FIFA Referee, Mayamiko Kanjere was tasked to handle the Blantyre Derby with Pondamali Tembo and Yohane Chiutika being his assistants while Cedric Mwachumu and Moffat Champiti were tasked with the fourth official and match assessor roles respectively.
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Kanjere who was based in Blantyre, relocated his base to the Central Region thereby joining the Referees Association of the region. The Central Region Referees Association claims that the Southern Region courted its member without their consent.
Mwayi Msungama, Zebron Lengani, and Gift Chicco are the only referees from the Southern Region who can handle Derby’s heat but Chicco cannot be the referee as Wanderers rejected him last season after allegedly wrecked the previous Derby while Zebron Lengan is yet to officiate the BT Derby.
It is reported that the Associations will have a meeting to discuss the way forward with the matter.
“Chances are also high that Msungama might be considered to be the central referee. Msungama has twice been in charge of the Blantyre derby and they all ended in draws,” reports Wa Ganyu.
Bullets want Kanjere, Chiutika replaced
In a twist of events after Mighty Mukuru Wanderers were reported to be against Mayamiko Kanjere’s team to handle the derby, their rivals, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have officially penned a letter to Sulom requesting them to change the match officials, especially Kanjere and Chiutika.
The People’s Team in a letter dated May 1, 2024, signed by the Club’s Chief Administrative Officer, wants Sulom to “immediately” replace Kanjere and Chiutika for performing “poorly” during their game against Dedza Dynamos.
“As a Club, we would like to bring your attention to that during the league’s opening match on 6 April 2024 in Dedza where FCB Nyasa Big Bullets played against Dedza Dynamos Football Club, Messrs Mayamiko Kanjere and Yohane Chiutika who were the referee and 1st Assistant Referee respectively, performed poorly to the dismay of our team officials and supporters.
“The decision of the two match officials were generally inconsistent and biased against Bullets.
“In view of the foregoing, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets does not believe that it is a rational decision to assign the same officials to manage a high-profile game between Bullets and Wanderers,” said Chigoga.
The Blantyre Derby comes at a time when the two teams are tied up on 8 points from their opening four games, winning two and drawing two games each.
Kanjere so far has handled five Derby games but both sides feel uncomfortable with him taking charge of the forthcoming fixture. Both Bullets and Wanderers are trailing Silver Strikers who have scooped 10 points from the same number of games.
National Referees Association of Malawi General Secretary, Chris Kalichero said they have received the letter from Bullets but the decision is yet to be made.
“The allocation committee is still discussing this, we will release a statement depending on the outcome of the discussions of the committee,” he tells Wa Mpira.
Sulom General Secretary, Williams Banda was not available for his comment on the matter.
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