National Sports

FAM starts 2025 club licensing

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has rolled out the 2025 season club licensing as the association moves to avoid last year’s scenario where the season  kicked off before clubs were cleared, contrary to  Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirement.

FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview said the 2025 club licensing process started on January 13.

The only team that was licensed at the beginning of 2024 season: Bullets. | Courtesy of Bullets

He said: “We opened the process last week on January 13 with clubs requested to do formal applications.”

FCB Nyasa Bullets were the only TNM Super League club that got licensed at the kick-off of 2024 season while the others got theirs licences midway.

Last season, the process delayed, a development the association attributed to the introduction of club licensing online platform (Clop).

Zakazaka said having learned from the challenges they encountered in 2024, this time they expect a smooth process.

He said: “Last year we were using the  online platform for the first time and there were some setbacks that delayed us.

“But now we are all  experienced on the use of the platform which should not be a problem this year.”

FAM will also hold workshops for clubs to further familiarise them with the online process.

“We will host a national workshop before they will start submitting relevant documents in the Clop.

“We are looking forward to conclude the process at least by the second week of March,” said Zakazaka.

Meanwhile, the association is also inspecting stadia as part of club licensing, to determine which venues can host matches.

Said Zakazaka: “We also started the pitch inspections last week. We will do them twice.

“The first one is about appreciating the current status of the venues then align with their owners on what should be done between now and month end of February when we will do the final inspection for certification.”

FAM has also strengthened the club licensing department with new staff as requested by CAF last year.

The association appointed former Flames defender Clement Kafwafwa as club licensing manager while David Daniel Dauda is club licensing officer.

Kafwafwa said the stadium inspection process is crucual as it is aimed at the ensuring the stadia fulfil criteria for hosting matches.

Under club licensing pillars only clubs that meet requirements such as financial capacity, legal ownership, sports facilities are licensed.

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