Cosafa courts Malawi to host Beach Soccer tourney

 Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says Cosafa has requested them to host this year’s Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship.

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu disclosed this on Saturday during the HTD Beach Soccer National Championship at Sunbird Livingstonia Beach in Salima.

He said Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) believes Malawi has capacity to host the competition.

Said Nyamilandu: “Our dream is to host the Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship. Cosafa has already asked us to host the competition. But alone we cannot manage it.”

He asked Minister of Sports Uchizi Mkandawire, who was the guest of honour, to push for beach soccer sponsorship.

Said Nyamilandu: “When government is budgeting for football, it should also include beach soccer. Hosting the event will not just benefit the sport. It will also help in promoting tourism. We would like to help market Lake Malawi as tourist destination through beach soccer.”

The FAM boss said beach soccer national team had already proved it can compete at highest level after qualifying for 2022 CAF Beach Soccer.

Nyamilandu explained: “If the beach soccer team made it to Afcon, what more if they get maximum support. The team has given us hope that the sky is the limit. We can even qualify for the Beach Soccer World Cup.”

He thanked HTD Malawi Limited for sponsoring the national championship to the tune of K20 million.

Said the FAM president: “Last year, you promised to sponsor Beach Soccer National Championship. Today you have fulfilled that promise. This is a sign that you are big corporate citizen. K20 million is a lot for us. We know we want more. But we appreciate what you have given us.

“What you have given us is what is giving the teams the motivation to continue playing beach soccer on the shores of Lake Malawi.”

Mkandawire thanked FAM for using beach soccer to promote tourism and promised government’s support in the association’s efforts.

On his part, HTD Malawi Limited chief executive officer Haris Sadik said they decided to sponsor the championship to help develop the sport in the country.

He said: “The private sector can play an important role in promoting sports. Soccer in Africa is like a religion. In Malawi it is also the same. I grew up playing football and my position was goalkeeper. I saw that Malawi has a lot of talent.”

Sadik said beach soccer sponsorship is also helping HTD Malawi Limited, who are KIA Motors sole distributors, to market its products.

He said: “We are KIA vehicles dealers and we need to identify avenues which can promote our products. What else can promote our products if not football.”

Beach Soccer Malawi chairperson Gift Chimbalanga thanked HTD Malawi Limited for the sponsorship.

He said: “ If it wasn’t for HTD Limited we could not have been here. We do not take this sponsorship for granted.”

Teams from beach soccer centres in Salima, Nkhotakota, Mangochi, Karonga and Chintheche battled it out for the championship.