2014 Presidential Cup in limbo
A cloud of uncertainty still hovers over the 2014 Presidential Football Cup as FAM is yet to determine when the national cup can kick off.
The cup which is competed in three phases, normally kicks off at the start of the year, but it is now seven months behind schedule.
The tournament could not kick off because the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), which is entrusted with its organisation, diverted K22 million (about $60 000) of the K60 million (about $160 000) allocation towards the national soccer team’s expenses for last year’s 2014 World Cup qualifier against Nigeria.
But FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda on Thursday said they are planning to meet Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) to chart the way forward.
Asked on what the association plans to do about the K22 million shortfall, Nyirenda said: “Don’t forget that we have started another financial year and there is another allocation for the tournament, but we’ll be guided by Sports Council officials.”
But Sports Council executive secretary George Jana said the ball is in FAM’s court.
“The PIS (Presidential Initiative on Sports) runs from January to June. So, if FAM still wants to proceed with the tournament using the balance from last year’s K38 million (about $100 000) allocation or if they want to forego this year’s tournament and start with a full funding next year, then it is up to them, but the balance is still there.
“They have not communicated to us about their plans, but we’ll be talking to them to see how they may want to proceed,” said Jana.
After diverting part of the money towards the Flames, FAM announced that the tournament would start at regional phase instead of the normal procedure of starting at district level, a development that was not well received by certain quarters who felt it would defeat the purpose of the initiative which is to develop the game from the grass roots.
FAM then backtracked and announced that the tournament would still accommodate teams from the districts under a different format, but up to now there has been no progress.
