National Sports

FAM says academy will be sustained

Football Association of Malawi has expressed optimism that it will sustain the football academy when the three-year deal with SureStream Petroleum expires.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said the association hopes to generate revenue for the project through local fixtures that will be played at the academy’s venue SureStream Stadium [formerly MDC Stadium].

“We are optimistic that the model we are going to set up should be sustainable. We’ll generate revenue through local fixtures.

“But we are also discussing [with SureStream] on how they can support us in the replica jersey sales because part of the money from the business fund will also go towards sustaining the academy project,” he said.

The FAM president also said it is his sincere hope that the ambitious project will be able to attract other sponsors along the way.

The UK-based oil firm has pledged to pump in $400 000 [about K67 million] towards the academy over a three-year period.

From that amount, half of it will go towards refurbishing the stadium whereas the rest will be spent on equipment.

The FAM boss also said the success of the academy will require volunteerism on the part of the technical expertise.

Nyamilandu also said SureStream will engage a part-time expert to train the coaches.

The FAM leader also said the association hopes to extend to Lilongwe and Mzuzu should the project prove to be a success.

“Our target is also that in three years’ time, we’ll be able to produce the first Under-17 national team from the academy. That’s the ultimate goal,” he said.

Nyamilandu and technical director Jack Chamangwana also noted that the challenge will not only be about nurturing the talent but also how the players will be handled after they graduate.

Said Chamangwana: “We hope teams in the Super League will introduce youth teams and get players from the academy.

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