FPA, FAM at loggerheads over stadium inspection

Football Players Association of Malawi (FPA) has accused Football Association of Malawi (FAM) of sidelining them in the ongoing stadium inspection exercise ahead of the 2024 season.

FPA general secretary Ernest Mangani in an interview condemned FAM’s conduct for not incorporating FPA in the exercise when they are a major stakeholder in providing the needed checks and balances on venues that can be injurious to players.

He said: “Honestly, we are not happy with the way FAM is carrying out its business on issues to do with players’ welfare. What has shocked us most is the issue of the stadium inspection exercise where we were supposed to be part of the team to determine whether a particular venue is ideal to host games taking into consideration the safety of our players.

“As a players union, we need to be part of the assessment team because some stadia approved to host games last season paused danger to our players but that has not happened, they are carrying out the exercise without taking us on board. This is not on.”

Mangani said FAM deliberately sidelines them because they are aware that they provide critical inputs that can paint a negative image of the association.

“The situation has left players in the country exploited and suppressed.  In South Africa, you cannot play in PSL if you are not a member of a players association like ours.

“The same in England, you cannot play in EPL if you are not a member of a players association yet here in Malawi, the story is different. We are disregarded by the FA,” he said.

FPA last season asked FAM not to license clubs that had outstanding dues with players and those paying salaries below government minimum wage, but according to Mangani, the association ignored them.

 Mangani said FAM also approved players’ contracts that are below government minimum salary wage.

But FAM club licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said the best FPA would do is to ask for a report on how his office is complying in meeting players’ welfare issues, not the blaming approach.

Football analyst Kelvin Moyo said FAM and FPA should work together instead of fighting.

“FAM and FPA should each be sensitive on their mandates. It would be better for the love of the game to respect each other’s views,” he said.

FPA has a membership of 395.