National Sports

FAM overhauls technical committee

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has overhauled the technical committee which Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president Tiya Somba Banda will now head, replacing immediate-past first vice-president James Mwenda.

Initially, the subcommittee only handled youth football and coaches aspects of the game, but it will now also incorporate women’s football, beach soccer, youth football and futsal.

Heads the new committee: Somba-Banda

FAM general secretary (GS) Alfred Gunda said the changes will make the subcommittee more relevant and vibrant.

“The committee is chaired by Sulom president Tiya Somba Banda while Suzgo Ngwira is vice-chairperson,” he said.

Gunda said FAM made the changes following amendments to the association’s statutes as stipulated by world football governing body Fifa.

“The new technical committee shall be responsible for driving the oversight of all technical aspects of the game such as coaching, grassroots and youth development, women’s football, beach soccer and futsal,” he said.

Gunda said FAM delayed appointing the members of the technical subcommittee as it was working on the new set-up which had to be approved by the extraordinary annual general meeting held over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the development has left the national team coach Meck Mwase, who reports to the committee, working in isolation.

This comes at a time when Malawi is preparing for two crucial competitions—the 2022 Qatar World Cup and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Gunda said they were aware of the after-effects of the delay, but had to follow procedure when making the appointments.

“We know that operating without the committee had its shortfalls. But, as you can see, this is the biggest committee following the changes.

“You must appreciate that we needed to find suitable people to be in the committee so that they deliver,” he said.

According to Fifa, the primary purpose of the technical subcommittee is to assist the FAM executive committee in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities on specific technical matters which are beyond the scope or expertise of non-technical ex-co members.

Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda said it made sense to combine the other aspects of the game that were not included before.

“It’s something that should have been done long time ago,” he said.

Mwenda, who lost to incumbent president Walter Nyamilandu in last December elections, headed the subcommittee for five years with the current vice-president Jabar Alide as his deputy.

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