Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says politicians will be required to apply for a license to organise football trophies during the campaign period ahead of the country’s September 16 General Elections.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said they believe this will help to end politicians’ abuse of football competitions.
In previous elections, most politicians were left scot-free despite not committing to their obligations such as giving prize money to sports teams at the end of campaign trophies, especially after failing to win parliamentary seats.
Politicians, especially aspirants for parliamentary seats, use football and netball to garner support and gain popularity ahead of elections.
But Zakazaka has assured that abuse of football for personal gains by politicians will not happen again this time around because they have put in place strong measures to curb the malpractice.
“We recently held workshops with our district associations and made it clear that only politicians that fulfill their obligations prior to trophies, will be licensed to conduct their competitions,” he said.
Zakazaka added that FAM president Fleetwood Haiya recently presented the association’s concern on the competitions to Parliament and was assured by the Speaker that members would be following FAM’s regulations.
He added that campaign trophies have proved to be important in the development of football in the country as they unearth talent from the remotest areas where sponsorship is scarce, but lack of continuity has been a stumbling block.
“It is our plea, therefore, that the competitions should be sustained even after the elections,” said Zakazaka.
NAM generl secretary Yamikani Kauma said they require all sponsors to engage them so that they can support the districts and regions in contracting of the sponsorships and ensure that there is pre-submission of sponsorship funding to the winners.
She said: “In that way, we will be able to support the districts to manage the risk.
“That will also allow us to adhere to duration of the competitions while ensuring our players are providing with their prize money.
Kauma said they cannot tolerate the abuse of players.
“We will ensure that we are engaged and that we provide the go ahead, sponsorship agreement is signed, full Sponsorship amount is provided before the launch of the games.
“We will also denounce those that have not sought, engaged or signed contracts with NAM in support of their districts or regions.”
But political and football analyst Humphreys Mvula said politicians will continue to abuse football and netball unless FAM and NAM publicise and enforce their regulations.
He added that the associations should also ensure that the politicians’ sponsorship packages should include other requirements such as players’ medical insurance.
“Licensing the competitions will not be enough, but ensuring proper standards are kept and all requirements of the game such as players’ medical insurance are fulfilled,” Mvula said.
“We are just lucky that no one has died due to poor medical support during political campaign trophies, but medical insurance should be a must.
“Politicians support football not for the love of it, but to garner political support and they need to be held accountable in every aspect of the game. It’s really time to get tough.”
Malawi National Council of Sports spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa said they cannot regulate campaign competitions because tournament rules are in the hands of the associations.
