I have unfinished business—Walter

• He has reached his terminal velocity, Mijiga insists

Walter Nyamilandu’s bid for a fourth four-year FAM presidential term during this December 18 elections has raised questions on what he seeks to achieve that he was unable to do in the 11 years of his rule.

“I have no intention to run for life presidency but to wind up unfinished business and to hand over the reins to any capable person at the most opportune moment. This is a defining moment for Malawi football and I share the concerns of the affiliates to exercise caution,” Nyamilandu said.

“I have a renewed agenda for football and I will outline my manifesto in the coming months. There are lots of challenges for me to pursue otherwise it would be meaningless to remain in office.”

Launching his manifesto themed ‘Do not change if it is not broken’ in 2011, Nyamilandu promised to create a fund for unsponsored Super League clubs, secure broadcasting and marketing rights with SuperSport, ensure the Flames qualification for the 2014 World Cup and secure Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers sponsorship.

“As I seek re-election for the office of president during the forthcoming elections, I intend to pursue a football agenda that will bring success, excellence, glory and pride to the nation,” Nyamilandu promised on November 30 2011 at the College of Medicine Sports Complex.

Four years down the line, Bullets and Wanderers only enjoyed a year-long sponsorship Nyamilandu secured from Carlsberg which eventually settled for the Flames in 2014, whereas the Flames bid for the last World Cup flopped.

There is no fund for unsponsored clubs and where Nyamilandu promised success, glory and excellence there is Flames failure with winning 2015 Cosafa Plate Championship as the only consolation after hiring and firing four coaches since 2011. The team’s current winning rate stands at 23 percent.

Additionally,  gate-ticket sales and management remain prone to abuse. Violence has claimed three lives and a loss of property in the last 18 months and clubs such as Escom United and Blackpool have died.

Footballers and coaches are getting poorer, infrastrure shortage is on the increase.

Subject to other candidates meeting requirements, Nyamilandu faces the challenge of Owen Chomanika, Ali Mwachande, Kelvin M’mangisa, John-Gift Mwakhwawa, Wilkins Mijiga and Boniface Maganga.

“He has reached his terminal velocity. He cannot accelerate any more. He has run out of gas. The biggest flaw is that he cannot see that he has overstayed his welcome and this is a sign of bad leadership. He is our friend. We have supported him, but he wants to stay to do what? The national team is perpertually declining, he has fired many coaches, but the buck stops at him,” Mijiga challenged Nyamilandu.

Reacting to Mijiga’s comment, Nyamilandu said: “It just shows he is out of touch with football.

I have football in my blood and it is part of my DNA unlike others who know nothing about football, experience is the best teacher.”

The FAM president also claimed that  he is an achiever.

“The legacy speaks for itself. I never run out of ideas and there is more in store. There are lots of challenges and a lot of unfinished business that I need to fulfil.

“This is not a job for the fait-hearted or opportunists. It needs people that are passionate and knowledgeable about the game,” said Nyamilandu.

FAM executive committee member David Dube believes  it will be the same vicious circle if Nyamilandu gets re-elected. “One of his biggest weaknesses is that he has given the secretariat too much power.”

FAM affiliates, Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) chairperson Raphael Humba insisted recently that they persuaded Nyamilandu to stand again because the rest of the candidates have not sold themselves to affiliates, but “they are just speaking to media.”

“We have asked Nyamilandu to stand again and not to be a president again. We are not barring anybody. Walter has done his part, everybody knows that. But where are the other candidates? There are simply no worthwhile candidates. If there are, let them approach us [affiliates] and see what they have to offer Malawi football,” Humba argued.

Not that Nyamilandu has achieved nothing. Inheriting the game when it was in tatters, he has brought some stability, won some sponsors’ confidence and set up structures such as Chiwembe Technical Centre and Mzuzu Goal Project.

FAM has an open ended term of office whose requirements include possession of five years of recent past main stream affiliate football administration experience. Nine affiliates will contribute three delegates each to the elections. Simple majority determines winner after secret ballot voting. n