By Llywellenie Mpasa & Mabvuto Kambuwe:
It never rains but pours for FCB Nyasa Big Bullets. Just a day after players boycotted training due to internal squabbles, Wednesday, Bullets were thrown into fresh turmoil after High Court Sheriffs impounded the team’s bus for their failure to honour a K25 million debt to former coach Franco Ndawa.
Wednesday’s plight summed up Bullets’ problems in the early stages of the season.
This has also put the integrity of the club into serious question despite being touted as one of the models in domestic football.
Bullets Chief Administration Officer Albert Chigoga confirmed that the bus was seized for the debt dating back to 2016 before Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC) took over.
“Mr Ndawa dragged the club to court in 2016 for unlawful termination of his contract. After assessment, the court ruled that Mr Ndawa should get K25 million compensation.
“Our lawyers filed an appeal as the amount was on a higher side. But the court told us to deposit the money first before filing an appeal,” Chigoga said.
Bullets’ bus was seen parked at the High Court premises as of Wednesday.
When contacted Wednesday, Registrar of the High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal Kondwani Banda said he was in Lilongwe and could not give more details as we went to press.
Ndawa did not answer our calls after several attempts.
The coach was fired from his post barely two days after Bullets lost 1-0 to Mafco in the Carlsberg Cup quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Bullets players ended their strike Wednesday. The players did not train on Tuesday apparently due to unpaid salaries and training bonuses. But Chigoga told Times 360 Sport on Tuesday that the club does not owe the players anything.
“At Bullets, the player’s salaries and bonuses are paid at the same time. Normally, we pay them on 28th of every month. Currently, their salaries and bonuses are being processed,’’ he said.
The People’s Team has been in turmoil for weeks after they also paid K6 million to Silver Strikers for repairing the bus which was damaged following the team’s 1-0 defeat on June 2 at Kamuzu Stadium.
In another development, Bullets National Supporters Committee Treasurer Chingeni Kadammanja resigned from his position due to what he described as personal reasons.
On the pitch, Bullets have also made their worst start to the season in five years. They have only collected 15 points from 10 matches and they are on position five, 11 points behind leaders Silver.
Last week, Bullets turned down an invitation to participate in this year’s Cecafa Kagame Cup.
However, they have confirmed their participation in the Caf Champions League which starts in August.
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