Mozambique unrest worries FAM
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) fears that the conflict in Mozambique could put the Flames road trip to Zimbabwe at risk.
The Flames are scheduled to travel to Harare early next month for their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations’ qualifier against Zimbabwe’s Warriors on June 4.
FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda has said they have since sought government’ clearance through the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) on whether it is safe to pass through Mozambique amid the renewed fighting between Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) and Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), which recently claimed for lives of four Malawians who were attacked while travelling to South Africa.
There have also been more reports of casualties caught in the crossfire with buses and other freight vehicles targeted by the rebels.
On Monday a woman was shot dead in central province of Manica after gunmen opened fire on the car she was travelling in with a four-month old baby according to the Zimbabwean.
A Filipino teacher was also killed in an ambush on a passenger bus by Renamo rebels on Sunday in Murrotone, near Mocuba town, according to New24.com.
Nyirenda said they do not want to take chances on the issue.
“The ideal thing was to fly to Zimbabwe. But we are in a situation where we don’t have funds for air tickets hence the decision to travel by road. We have written Sports Council to give us direction on the matter,” he said.
FAM already exhausted its K100 million (about $150 000) funding from the 2015/16 financial year and government has put its foot down on extra funding.
The Warriors are leading Group L with eight points, three ahead of second-placed Swaziland.
Guinea are third while Malawi’s Flames are at the bottom with two points from two draws.
Sports Council executive secretary George Jana yesterday said they had received FAM’s letter and that it has been sent to relevant authorities.
“These are security matters. We have referred the matter to the security people who will advise us on whether it is safe or not,” Jana said without going into details.
A peace agreement ended the war in 1992 and led to multiparty elections in which Renamo came second, as it has done in every election since.
But the rebels retained an armed force despite agreeing to disarm, claiming that Frelimo, the ruling party, has also reneged on its promises.
In the latest conflict, Renamo has demanded that it first take power in the six central and northern provinces where it claims to have won in the 2014 elections.
UHNCR, Doctors Without Borders, and Human Rights Watch reports indicate that 12 000 Mozambicans have fled into Malawi since the middle of 2015.
