FIFA president to mourn Chilima
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says Fifa president Gianni Infantino plans to pay homage to President Lazarus Chakwera today following the death of Vice-President Saulos Chilima and nine others in a plane clash in Chikangawa Forest, Mzimba.
The Fifa boss, who was expected to arrive in the country by a private jet last night, was scheduled to meet Chilima today.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said in an interview yesterday that they were trying to make arrangements for Infantino to meet Chakwera.
And in a press statement released last evening, FAM says following the tragedy, most of the Fifa president’s planned activities have been cancelled.
Reads the statement in part: “The Fifa President plans to pay his solemn homage to President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, the bereaved family and the nation at large.”
The statement further says FAM is shocked with the tragic and sudden death of the Vice-President and eight others.
Reads the statement: “The President of FAM, Mr. Fleetwood Haiya, executive members, staff and all affiliates of FAM joins the State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and the entire nation in mourning the departed souls.
“Dr. Chilima was a visionary and transformative leader who placed the interests of the nation above his. He shall be remembered for his enormous contribution to sports and football in particular.
“Among others, Dr. Chilima played a crucial role as chairperson of the fundraising committee for the first ever FAM Cup in 2005 when the country played the whole season without a corporate sponsor.”
It further says the departed Vice-President was also the chairperson of the FAM competitions committee and was instrumental in securing the Standard Bank Cup sponsorship in 2007.
Meanwhile, Blantyre Sports Club golf committee has announced the postponement of Urban Realtors tournament which was scheduled for Saturday due to the death of the Vice-President and the others.
A statement from the golf committee partly reads: “You may wish to know that the Vice-President was also invited by the sponsor to participate in the tournament and had confirmed his attendance.”
