Flames, Nigeria game bonuses worlds apart
While government is reluctant to raise Flames game bonus, it has emerged that there is a huge gap between Malawi and their 2014 World Cup qualification contenders, Nigeria’s Super Eagles in terms of allowances.
The Flames will face Nigeria in a Group F qualifier in September.
Flames demanded K100 000 each [about $294] for a win in last Wednesday’s qualifier against Kenya’s Harambee Stars, but the Super Eagles wanted their pockets filled with $10 000 (about K3.4 million) each after beating Kenya in the same tournament last week.
Nevertheless, the Nigerians were offered $2 500 (about K850 000) each following their 1-1 draw in Namibia in another World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, but still the players wanted more whereas the Flames got K50 000 (about $147) each after they drew 2-2 with Kenya.
Former Flames captain Peter ‘Mjojo’ Mponda and his successor Joseph ‘Shakira’ Kamwendo said the development is a confirmation that Flames get peanuts despite giving their best.
“This [Nigeria] is the team that we are supposed to beat at their backyard if we are to boost our World Cup qualification hopes, yet we are worlds apart in terms of player incentives,” said Mponda.
Kamwendo said they were relieved by FAM president Walter Nyamilandu’s assurance that he would lobby for an increase.
“It is not all about money, we are just asking for something to motivate us because K30 000 (about $75) game bonus is on the lower side,” said Kamwendo.
Nyamilandu said the issue of player incentives has dragged for a long time.
“They [players] have been patient enough because they first raised this issue over three years ago when Peter [Mponda] was still the captain. The issue of player incentives is paramount if we want to get the best from them,” he said.
“Football is a game of egos. What we get is peanuts compared to other teams in the region and indeed on the continent and it contributes to our level of performance,” said one player who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Perhaps Ghana could be too far for comparison. Neighbours Zimbabwe promised their team, the Warriors, $10 400 (then about K3.3 million each), which was about 35 times more than Malawi’s offer.
On top of the monetary pledge, the Zimbabwe government promised to give each player a residential stand (a plot) in Harare’s leafy northern suburbs, but the Warriors still failed to qualify.
On the other hand, former African champions Zambia’s Chipolopolo were offered $5 000 each (about K1.6 million).
The Flames get K30 000 (less than $100) each as a game bonus for a win and half the amount for a draw. They also get K2 000 each as daily camping allowance.
To the contrary, Chipolopolo get $3 000 (about K960 000) each as a game bonus for a win whereas the Warriors receive $1 500 (about K480 000) each.
Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana admitted that the Flames get a raw deal.
“I am aware that our boys are not motivated. They read newspapers and the Internet on how national team players are motivated elsewhere.
“It is an issue that my officials are pursuing and I want to see to it that their welfare is improved including their allowances, but the problem is that government is in the process of recovering economic problems. We are also discussing with FAM to see how we can get a corporate partner to sponsor the national team,” said Chihana.
