The honeymoon is over for substandard football academies as Football Association of Malawi (FAM) will from May 25 this year, start cracking down on such institutions.
Malawi has over 50 football academies that claim to offer grassroots football instruction for children as young as four years.
But after decades of operating without regulations, which put such kids at a threat of physical and psychological abuse, FAM will from May 25 start licensing the academies and only those that fulfill requirements will be allowed to operate.
This follows the association’s executive committee approval of the proposed regulations during a meeting held a fortnight ago.
FAM competitions and communication director Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed the development, adding that the football academies have already been informed on the development.
He said: “The technical department came up with Football Academy licensing regulations which were presented to the executive committee at the last meeting for its perusal and they were duly approved.”
The regulations will fall into six categories, namely, legal and structure, sporting, administration and personnel, finance, infrastructure, facilities and equipment as well as education.
Under legal and structure, the academies will be expected to be registered by government agencies such as the Registrar General’s Office, district commissioner’s office or city assembly.
The academies will be expected to have a head coach, operations manager, age group coaches (with FAM D or CAF C qualifications), safeguarding, medical and education officers as well as a matron for those residing at the institution.
Zakazaka said before coming up with the regulations, football academies were appraised of the pending licensing process to give them ample time to fall in line.
“So, between now and May 25, we will carry out an inspection of all football academies. Only those that meet the requirements will be licensed to operate.”
Fifa is strict on operation of academies to protect minors from exploitation.
The world football governing body’s regulations state that academies must providing a safe environment free from any form of exploitation or physical or psychological abuse.
The academies are also obliged to offer educational programmes that ensure the minors’ academic development alongside their athletic growth.
Academies are also expected to provide appropriate accommodation and constant supervision to ensure the players’ well-being.
It is expected that FAM’s regulations will align with those of Fifa which state that the academies have a code of conduct which parents, players and members of staff shall agree to abide by.
The Code of Conduct for staff shall include a section where there is a declaration by the member of staff that he/she has no criminal convictions and also that he/she is safe to work with children.
Academies are also expected to admit only players that have parent/guardian’s consent before enrolling.
Most of the local football academies have no infrastructure and only operate on make-shift football grounds.
But under the regulations, they will have to prove they have infrastructure, facilities and equipment such as hostels and changing rooms for both boys and girls.
Currently, some academies enrol school drop outs, but FAM will only license those that register school-going children.
The academies are also expected to ensure they do not disrupt the players from attending their studies.
So far, Lilongwe-based Ascent Academy and Mpira M’mudzi Mwathu are the two prominent football academies.
Ascent Academy director Thom Nkorongo welcomed the development, saying it would bring sanity to the academies.
He said: “We are perhaps the only academy with all the required facilities such as football grounds, hostels for boys and girls as well as qualified coaches.
“We also offer both football and academic education to the children. These new regulations will ensure that others also have such facilities to protect the children from exploitation.”
The now defunct Surestream Academy pioneered football academy business and produced some of Malawi’s top players such as Brighton Munthali, Mike Mkwate, Tatenda M’balaka, Levison Maganizo, Mark Fodya, Denis Chembezi and the late Thuso Paipi.
