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FAM pleads for increased package

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has asked government to increase its annual subvention from K300 million to K1.4 billion.

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu made the request on Tuesday when Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Francis Phiso visited Mpira Village in Blantyre as part of his familiarisation tour of Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS), sports associations and facilities.

He said they try to complement government’s financial support through other sources such as Fifa funding and income generating activities but they still have deficits.

Phiso and Nyamilandu greet national team players yesterday

“Our demands are huge and the K300 million we get is not enough for national football teams’ engagements. For example, in the last financial year alone we spent K900 million. While we appreciate government’s support, we plead for increased funding,” Nyamilandu said.

He also asked the government to consider assisting national men and women’s football teams by increasing game bonuses from the current K30 000.

“We do not have fixed amounts for game bonuses as sometimes we try our best to enhance the package,” Nyamilandu said.

According to FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda, they get $200 000 (about K150 million) annually from Fifa through the Fifa Forward Programme specifically for national teams’ travels and accommodation for international matches but that does not last long due to numerous national teams’ activities.

“A national team trip costs around K40 million and we have the senior men, junior and women football teams that are actively involved in international activities such as World Cup and Olympic Games qualifiers. The men and women’s teams were also at the Cosafa competitions that required funding. It is really hard to fulfil all national teams engagements,” he said.

In response, Phiso said he has taken up the request and government will do its best to improve football standards in the country.

“Let me also take advantage of this tour to ask all sports associations to present to come up with their calendar of events in good time for government to properly plan on how to financially support the programmes,” he said.

“Associations should also have other income generation activities to complement government’s support because, nowadays, football is business.”

The minister also toured Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) and MNCS offices.

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