Wanderers protest Blantyre derby delayed kick-off

Mighty Wanderers FC have protested the decision by Super League of Malawi (Sulom) to reschedule their FDH Bank Premiership Blantyre derby first round encounter against FCB Nyasa Bullets from the traditional afternoon 2:30pm slot to 4:30pm at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Sunday. In a letter dated May 6 2026 to Sulom, Wanderers board secretary Chancy Gondwe accused Sulom of making the decision without consulting the club as the hosts of the fixture. The Nomads have since demanded immediate review of the kick-off time.

Reads the letter in part: “No cogent reason has been provided for this drastic shift to an evening slot.” Wanderers further complained that the rescheduling has confused supporters after Sulom initially communicated that the match would start at 3pm before shifting it again to 4:30pm. “This abrupt change has created confusion among our supporters, who are now uncertain about the exact kick-off time, thereby affecting planning, attendance and overall matchday experience,” adds the letter. The Nomads have also raised concerns over floodlights, saying the match would inevitably require the second-half to be played under lights without guarantees of prior acclimatisation sessions.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda was not available for comment. Wanderers are playing their home matches at Bingu National Stadium following the closure of their home Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. Bullets, who also use the venue, hosted their first home match against Mafco at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza, a distance of about 100 kilometres.

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Football Association of Malawi (FAM) two weeks ago banned Kamuzu Stadium alongside Mzuzu Stadium and Nankhaka of Lilongwe for failing to meet minimum requirements. Meanwhile, Kamuzu Stadium owners Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture through their spokesperson MacMillan Mwale in an interview said they have completed renovations such as works on the stadium’s toilets, technical benches, scoreboard as well as drainage blockages. He said said they are now just fixing some minor areas such as clearing the stadium’s surroundings. But Mwale said they are yet to officially invite FAM for inspection.

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