Govt asks for prudence on UNAids funds to FAM

Government has advised the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to use the money provided by UNAids for the ‘Protect the Goal Project’ prudently.

Government made the appeal during the launch of the project at Silver Stadium on Sunday.

Justin Saidi. Principal Secretary for Ministry of Youth and Sports, warned FAM that this is a global campaign as such it is important that the money is used for its intended purpose to avoid tarnishing the image of the country.

“The objective of the campaign is to reduce HIV infections among the youth using football and also to mobilise young people to commit themselves to HIV prevention. The purpose is to promote key HIV prevention messages. The infection is very high among the youth in the country. For us as a country to realise this we have to channel the resources to intended purpose,” Saidi said in Lilongwe yesterday.

FAM is implementing the project in partnership with National Aids Commission (NAC) and on behalf of UNAids.

FAM second vice-president Pikao Ngalamila, who represented president Walter Nyamilandu during the unveiling of the Protect the Goal Project, said his organisation is equally worried by the Aids epidemic and has embraced the project wholeheartedly.

“Aids is an enemy of football and there cannot be continuity at national team level if our youth are infected. We are committed to implanting this project to realise the objective and make our youth free of Aids,” said Ngalamira.

The campaign has since unveiled Ruth Nyirongo of DD Sunshine, Victor Mpinganjira of Mighty Wanderers, Chawanangwa Kaonga of Silver Strikers, former Big Bullets player Chancy Gondwe and women football star Lukia Sanudi of Blantyre Zero as its ambassadors.

UNAids has partnered with football associations worldwide to roll-out this campaign. It was launched during the Afcon finals in January 2013.