Cloud of doubt
National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) and some clubs are frustrated with the Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) silence on the delayed 2023 FAM National Women’s Football Championship.
In an interview yesterday, the women’s FA chairperson Adelaide Migogo said the tournament was supposed to start in December last year, “but three months down the line, we have not heard anything from FAM”.
She said: “I wrote the GS [general secretary] Alfred Gunda an e-mail, which was copied to the president [Fleetwood Haiya] and competitions and communications director [Gomezgani Zakazaka], but they have not responded.
“Now, clubs have been coming to us for updates and in absence of any communication, it has become problematic as our hands are tied.”
The women’s football boss also said she fears that the delay could affect the Scorchers’ Cosafa Women’s Championship defence later this year.
“The national championship plays a significant role in preparing the Scorchers for the Cosafa Women’s Championship as it gives the coaching panel a chance to select players,” said Migogo.
Reigning national champions Kukoma Ntopwa FC owner Isaac Jomo Osman said they are disappointed with FAM’s conduct.
He said: “We are concerned because for three months now, we have been kept in suspense.
“We have been spending resources in preparing for the games and yet there appears to be no clear direction.”
Osman said as sponsors and organisers, FAM are to blame for the situation.
“It is all to do with football politics behind the scenes and we know it. But at the end of the day, it is women’s football that is suffering.
“Let us accept that [FAM] election period is over and it is time to concentrate on running the game.”
However, in an interview yesterday, Zakazaka attributed the tournament’s delay to funding challenges.
He said: “We had outstanding dues to clear such as Flames and Scorchers’ allowances for 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and Cosafa Women’s Championship, respectively.
“We also had dues to settle with some of our stakeholders as well as regional women’s leagues. We have paid off all that and now the focus will be the National Women’s Championship and the Moto Division One leagues.”
Zakazaka said Fifa has assured to send funding this week.
