FAM fails to harmonise season’s calendar

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has admitted that it has failed to implement its plan for a harmonised calendar in the forthcoming season due to other technicalities.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda on Thursday said the move requires a lot of consultation and planning.

The association had wanted the country’s major leagues to be in line with European and South African calendars, which start in August.

“Already, the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has announced that the flagship league will start next month [April] while some of the regional leagues are yet to be concluded.

“So, it means the harmonised calendar cannot be effected in the forthcoming season,” said Nyirenda.

The FAM CEO also said for the plan to be implemented, it will require a lot of consultations with the major stakeholders, including the leagues and sponsors.

“It is not that easy because the leagues and sponsors also have their own interests.

“We will have to call for a stakeholders meeting to address the issue in the near future because it is important that we harmonise the calendar in line with the leagues in Europe and South Africa where most of our players go to,” Nyirenda said.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said they decided to start the season after looking at a number of factors.

“We had to accommodate the programme of the sponsor and also avoid the effects of the rain season, but we are still optimistic that through contact and dialogue, we can harmonise the calendar,” Banda said.

Sulom recently revised its calendar by pushing it two months behind—stretching between April and December.

“This is also meant to allow ground owners time for maintenance between January and March. We have factored FAM’s calendar which they gave us in writing for the first time,” said Banda.