FAM challenged to build 2020 Olympics women’s squad

Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) has challenged Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to build a women’s national team capable of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

MNCS board chairperson James Chuma made the statement last weekend during the official launch of the Girls Grassroots Festival at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.

He said government will give the local soccer governing body all the necessary support for the Olympics, but FAM needs to do its part by grooming women football players good enough to make the country proud.

“I do not think we can fail to build a strong women’s football squad that can qualify for major competitions. Therefore, make sure you build a team that must join the qualifiers for 2020 Olympics. On our part, we will mobilise resources to enable the team compete,” Chuma told FAM officials.

Chuma said he was impressed with the passion for the game among 300 young girls between the age of six and 12, saying this gives hope that the country is capable of producing a lot of great women football stars.

National Women Football Association (NWFA) chairperson Severia Chalira, who is also FAM executive member, said they will do the needful to mould future women’s football stars.

She said Malawi has shown potential of developing top-class women footballers as evidenced by the exploits of two Europe-based professional players Tabitha Chawinga and Chisomo Kadzisonga, who ply their trade in Sweden and Austria, respectively.

“This signifies the country’s ability to produce more stars. All we need are proper development programmes such as the one we have here and adequate sponsorship or support for the game,” she said. n