Malawi National Council of Sports says petty politics in associations is affecting sports growth as those that do not support existing leaderships are sidelined.
Sports Council chief executive officer Henry Kamata, PhD, said this onn Tuesday during the launch of the National Sports Qualification Framework (NSQF) in Salima.
He said both government, through Sports Council, and the Malawi Olympic Committee have made significant investments in building the capacity of sports personnel, “but politics within associations undermines their potential”.
Said Kamata: “Many administrators have attained high-level qualifications, including degrees in sports science and administration. Yet, when we look at the sports sector, we often don’t see these individuals contributing significantly because of politics.
“Politics is destroying the capacity that we already have because if you did not align with the leadership of an association, you are not given a chance to contribute or implement what you learnt.”
He said the framework is aimed at addressing long-standing challenges faced by coaches, technical officials and sports administrators in developing sports talent across the country.
“The NSQF seeks to standardise training at national level, ensuring that more people, especially those passionate about pursuing careers in sport, can access credible training and be recognised for their qualifications,” said the council boss.
Kamata added that in the long term, the NSQF seeks to establish a robust, inclusive, and sustainable sports development system.
“It is not only expected to nurture talent, but also to contribute to national development goals by creating professional career paths in sports, improving governance, and boosting Malawi’s standing on regional and international sporting platforms,” he said.
Ministry of Youth and Sports director of sports Jameson Ndalama hailed the framework as a transformative step in the country’s sports development.
He said: “This is a game-changer. If we are serious about developing sport in Malawi, we need to address several components and these are infrastructure, athletes and, most importantly, the quality of our coaches and technical personnel.
“We have made progress in talent identification and infrastructure, but capacity building has been the missing link. This framework will standardise training, guide talent development and bring sanity into the system.”
“Coaches will now be classified into relevant levels, which also allows us to align with international standards and courses outside Malawi.”
Special Olympics Malawi national director Enid Mauluka welcomed the introduction of the framework, noting its importance for inclusive sports.
“At Special Olympics Malawi, we run several sporting codes and we’ve often struggled to partner with mainstream associations for sport-specific training.
“This initiative is also crucial because it will help our coaches gain proper training, which will improve athletes’ performance both locally and internationally.”
According to Sports Council, the framework aligns with the country’s long-term development strategy Malawi 2063, particularly its pillars on human capital development, youth empowerment, and health and wellbeing.
It is expected to enhance excellence, integrity, and accountability in the sports ecosystem while providing a clear roadmap for career advancement in sports-related fields.
It targets multiple groups across the sporting ecosystem, including young athletes aged between six and 18, who form the foundation of Malawi’s sporting future, coaches and technical officials, from grassroots to elite levels, sports administrators, managing clubs, associations, and academies and educational institutions offering physical education and sports-related programmes.
