Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya has asked the government to allocate funding for national teams directly other than through the National Sports Council.
He made the call on Friday during a cocktail at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe to mark one year since his election alongside other members of the executive committee.
Haiya said financing the national team is the responsibility of the government whereas FAM is there to regulate the sport.
He said: “Our role is to develop, promote, supervise and regulate the game of football within Malawi. We are mainly a regulatory body, but financing of national teams is government’s role. We just fill the gap by helping the government.
“But we are committed to entering in partnership with the corporate world so that our national teams are able to participate in regional, continental and global competitions.
“Just imagine, for this year’s football calendar, we submitted a budget of K5 billion through the Sport Council, but we only got K450 million. Our request is for direct funding instead of through the Sports Council. In this way, we believe things will improve.”
In a separate interview, Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire, who attended the event, appealed to the association to take up the issue with the Parliament.
He said: “It’s up to FAM to do the lobbying and not us as a ministry. FAM should be able to convince Parliament if that is the way to go. It is up to Parliament to decide. As a ministry, we cannot decide for Parliament on how it intends to allocate resources.
“It is Parliament that makes laws and so if Parliament comes up with a legislation which can be operationalised to allow FAM access resources from the consolidated fund directly it will be up to Parliament.”
In his first year as FAM president, Haiya said the executive committee has laid a good foundation to transform football in the country.
He said: “For us as a country to achieve the ‘Export Strategy’, we need to invest in grassroots football. That’s why we have the Luwinga Inclusive Academy.
“In 2025, we will work with the Malawi Schools Sports Association to establish a school of excellence where we will combine football and education. It is important that our players have a good education.”
Haiya also announced that FAM has bought five vehicles to solve transport problems facing the organisation and its affiliates.
During the FAM elections held in December last year, Haiya defeated Walter Nyamilandu in a heated election, Christopher Kuyera beat James Mwenda on the position of first vice-president, Lameck Khonje triumphed over the late Othaniel Hara to become second vice-president while Felister Dossi beat Mervis Mangulenje to take up the position of executive member.
Chimango Munthali retained his executive member position while Patrick Kapanga, Bernard Chiwiriwiri Harawa and Daud Mtanthiko were also elected executive members.
