‘I swear, never again’
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu has reiterated that he has no intention of seeking a fifth term when the soccer governing body goes to polls next year.
But Nyamilandu has dismissed speculation that he had endorsed a candidate, who is a member of the FAM executive committee, to succeed him.
With the FAM boss out of the picture, several names have been thrown into the hat as his possible successors.
Some of the names making circles in affiliates’ social media groups as possible candidates include first vice-president James Mwenda, executive members Daud Suleman, Daud Ntankhiko and Jabbar Alide.
However, the president’s silence on whom he had picked has caused uncertainty on whether he would stick to his guns or make a U-turn to contest as he did twice before.
Yesterday, Nyamilandu stressed that he was serving his last term.
“But I can’t stop rumours,” he said, adding that he was under no obligation to convince anyone about his decision.
On reports that he had imposed an aspiring candidate, Nyamilandu said affiliates are better-placed to pick his successor.
“Please ask the affiliates. Hopefully, they [affiliates] will find a right candidate by the time we go for elections,” he said.
The FAM boss also dismissed reports of bad blood among those aspiring for his position within the executive committee over his alleged choice of successor.
“I am not in election mood. They are far away. It’s too early for campaigning and we all have better things to do. The aspiring candidates must not rush. They must hold their cool,” he said.
But while Nyamilandu says he is not throwing his weight behind any candidate, reports show that some aspiring candidates have been meeting heads of affiliates, claiming they have the FAM boss’ blessings.
Commenting on the development, Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) chairperson Raphael Humba said it was too early to start campaigning.
He said: “But even if the president endorsed someone, it is not automatic that we would support that candidate. We would scrutinise him and see if he is fit to hold that office.”
Nyamilandu’s decision not to endorse a candidate follows a similar approach taken by Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president Innocent Bottoman.
Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda commended Nyamilandu and Bottoman for their gesture.
He, however, pleaded with the two football administrators to live by their word.
“Because sometimes this is what we are hearing in public, but we have no idea what is cooking behind doors,” he said.