Pres cup fund wrongfully went to Flames

It has emerged that one of the reasons the kick-off of the 2014 Presidential Cup is uncertain, is because part of the K60 million (about $150m) meant for the competition was spent on the Flames’ trip to Nigeria for the decisive 2014 World Cup qualifier.

The revelation comes in the wake of Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana’s claims that the next edition cannot start earlier, as planned by FAM, because it would mean having two editions of the same tournament within one fiscal year.

An inside source confided in The Nation on Tuesday that starting the tournament earlier would not complicate matters as stated by the minister, but rather it is the issue of K21 million (about $52 500) that was diverted to the Flames World Cup qualification campaign that needs to be sorted out.

“Funding for the current fiscal year under which the next edition of the Presidential Cup falls, was already approved last year, but the issue that needs to be addressed is where the money will come from to cover that which went towards the national team,” said the source.

Malawi National Council of Sports executive secretary George Jana on Tuesday confirmed that they are trying to organise a meeting with FAM to see how the issue can be handled.

“The money was indeed redirected towards the national team trip to Nigeria as FAM had already exhausted their allocation.

“We are supposed to have a meeting with FAM to see how best we can tackle the issue,” said Jana.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said there was a commitment from the association to use part of the Presidential Cup money.

“We had nothing at that time and we could not forfeit points and risk a punishment from Fifa and that is why we took that route. You may also recall that the team still had a chance to qualify for the final phase of World Cup qualification had they won that game,” said Nyirenda.

According to Jana and Nyirenda, the plans are that the Presidential Cup should start next month at district level.

However, Chihana contradicted Jana and Nyirenda insisting that funding for the next Presidential Cup will come from the next 2014/15 budget.

“I do not have details on whether money meant for Presidential Cup was diverted towards the Flames trip, but that happens whereby money meant for a certain programme can be redirected elsewhere and can be refunded.

“But if indeed some money was diverted then it should have been for the Presidential Netball Cup because that is the only major tournament that has not been concluded. Otherwise, as I said, the tournament has to be played in line with the budget and that means the tournament can only start in July next year,” insisted the minister.