Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has made uniform allowances for men’s and women’s national teams.
FAM executive committee made the decision at its quarterly meeting in Lilongwe on Sunday.
All along, the men’s teams were getting more than their female counterparts at all levels.
A statement from FAM reads: “The committee resolved that all national team player allowances and game bonuses for both men and women should be equal in the respective categories.”
Reacting to the development in separate interviews on Monday, Scorchers’ France-based captain Tabitha Chawinga and NGO- Gender Coordination Network board chairperson Maggie Kathewera Banda hailed FAM, saying it is the way to go.
Tabitha, who has all along advocated for improved welfare for local women footballers, said: “That is very good news and I commend FAM, especially its president Fleetwood Haiya for the move.
“It shows that we are now moving in the right direction because we are all equal and there should be no discrimination in terms of allowances.
“The move will go a long way in motivating female footballers and uplifting the standards. That is how it ought to be.”
The Olympique Lyonnais striker said FAM is now moving in the right direction in its efforts to uplift women’s football.
“The senior national women’s football team is now playing friendlies regularly and now they have equalled the allowances, this is good,” she said.
On her part, Kathewera Banda said: “It is a welcome development, it shows that FAM is recognising women’s football and the players’ efforts. So, we commend FAM for that.”
FAM last revised allowances for all national teams in October 2020 and since then, the Flames get K500 000 each for a win and half the amount for a draw in World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
In contrast, their female counterparts were getting K300 000 each for a win and half the amount for a draw.
In regional tournaments such as the Cosafa Cup, the Flames are entitled to K300 000 each for a win and half the amount for a draw while the Scorchers were getting K150 000 and K100 000 each, respectively.
As for friendly matches, the male senior national team players are entitled to K200 000 each for a win and half the amount for a draw whereas their female counterparts were getting K100 000 each for a win and K50 000 each for a draw.
The men’s team get K200 000 each as appearance fee for major tournaments and K150 000 each for regional tournaments. In contrast, their female counterparts were getting K150 000 each and K100 000 each, respectively.
However, both the men’s and female players are entitled to $100 (about K175 100) each as daily external allowance.
