No hike for PIS package
- FAM, NAM paint gloomy picture
Despite sports associations pleading for the revision of the Presidential Initiative on Sports (PIS) package, Sports Council has said government has maintained the K120 million allocation.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and their netball counterparts NAM, which are the biggest beneficiaries, have since painted a gloomy picture, saying with the current difficult economic climate, it will be tough to plan around the same allocations.
FAM gets K60 million while NAM is allocated K30 million. The remaining K30 million is shared by all other associations.
Council executive secretary George Jana confirmed on Friday that the 2015 edition of the PSI will roll out in January, but with the same old package.
“The associations’ concerns are understandable and government appreciates their worries, but considering the budgetary constraints government is facing, the package could not be reviewed,” said Jana.
He also said only disciplines that presented plans will be considered for funding.
“Sports disciplines need to justify why they should benefit from the initiative. They should not expect to get an allocation just because there is money,” he said.
FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said they were expecting a hike this time around after three fruitless years of pleading for an increase.
“It is going to be a very big challenge for us to organise tournaments from the K60 million considering inflation that has hit our economy,” said Nyirenda.
He said the K60 million is on the lower side considering that it is shared among the main tournament, women, beach soccer and youth football.
“We will be forced to review the formation and it will not be easy as the tournament starts at district level to meet the objective, which is to develop talent from the grassroots,” said Nyirenda.
NAM general secretary Carol Bapu also lamented the situation, saying for the past few years they have had challenges to run the tournament because the allocation is not enough.
“We plead with government to do something about it,” said Bapu. n
