Haiya gets started

Newly elected Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya has called for team work and unity among stakeholders as he embarks on his ambitious project to transform the game.

The former Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president was ushered in tafter beating his predecessor Walter Nyamilandu by 23 votes against 13 during the association’s elective general assembly at Sunbird Mzuzu on Saturday.

He said: “We have no time to waste as we embark on a new journey.

“Elections are gone. It’s time to get down to work and focus on the task we have to take our game to greater heights. But if we are to achieve this, we need to work as a team and pull in the same direction because united we stand and divided we fall.

“I, therefore, appeal for support from all stakeholders, including government, affiliates, sponsors, clubs, players, officials and supporters.”

Haiya also said he will work with all affiliates, including those that did not vote for him.

“I will maintain my open-door policy and not be swayed petty issues. I will not shun those that did not vote for me because this is football and that is why it is called a beautiful game,” he said.

Among the key goals in his manifesto titled ‘Agenda for Change’, Haiya promises technical development and capacity building, reviving and coordinating school football programmmes, creating regional slots for FAM vice-presidents to promote representation and collaboration at national level.

He also promised  improved officiation standards, developing the capacity of Malawian coaches, uplifting women’s football, improving quality of lower leagues and developing beach soccer.

In his blueprint, Haiya further promises to improve the quality of lower leagues, “by developing technical and administrative skills, including infrastructure”.

He has also pledged a K500 minimum sponsorship for the Super League, negotiate for 60 percent gate revenie share for Super League clubs.

Haiya has also promised to establish offices and buy ultility vehicles for regional associations.

In an interview yesterday, Malawi National Council of Sports board chairperson Sunduzwayo Madise said they expect Haiya to build on the foundation Nyamilandu laid.

He said: “But we also expect a much better and improved relationship with council where we can harness our individual energies to achieve more and better things for our football.

“Hopefully the new president will rein in his secretariat so that days of tit-for-tat media spats are a thing of the past.

“I also hope the secretariat has learnt its lesson. It should always be professional and not get involved in electoral [corporate] politics.

“My advice would be that in whatever they do, the newly-elected executive must always remember that theirs is a fiduciary duty. They work on trust on behalf of the people. 

“For the newly-elected president, he has been given a clean slate on which to write his legacy, but he doesn’t have the luxury of time as the clock is already ticking.

“Malawians expect a lot from him.”