Infantino backs FAM proposal

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) head office is expected to relocate from Mpira Village in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre to Lilongwe, the association has announced.

FAM president Fleetwood Haiya said this on Wednesday after meeting Fifa president Gianni Infantino in Lilongwe during his vist Malawi.

The Fifa president also assured the association of funding for the construction of new offices in the capital.

 Said Haiya: “We want to make sure that we have the headquarters of FAM here in Lilongwe. We will also have training fields at a minimum of four where we will also have hostels for both men and women’s football.

“We believe that with this structure that we are visualising, once realising it, is also going to help as we transform the game of football in Malawi.”

He said the project, which will be funded by Fifa Forward, will start once FAM acquires land.

Said Haiya: “The Fifa president has given a nod that he is going to support the idea of constructing of new offices in Lilongwe and beyond that, he has also presented that to the President [Lazarus Chakwera] that we have agreed with FAM and this is what is going to happen, but maybe we need land for this.”

He said Fifa has also agreed to fund the association’s schools of excellence.

The FAM president said they intend to introduce schools of excellence in government national schools.

Infantino, who also met the President and Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire to brief them on the project, confirmed the development.

He said: “During our visit, we had an opportunity to meet the President of the Republic and also the Sports Minister. We had an opportunity to discuss several projects. The future for football here in Malawi definitely will be very bright. There is so much passion and talent here in Malawi.”

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda said moving the FAM head office to Lilongwe will help cut costs.

He said: “Right now FAM spends a lot travelling between Blantyre and Lilongwe when there are events.

“Once the head office moves to Lilongwe, the secretariat will be based there and there won’t be  much of travel expenses.”