National Sports

K15m for women football

Some $37 500 (K15 million) pledged by the Football International Federation Association (Fifa) at its congress in Brazil will be injected into domestic women football as a cut from the $750 000 (K308.3 million).

FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed yesterday that the money would go towards the women team’s Cosafa Women Cup and warm-up matches before the regional tournament to be staged in Namibia this October.

Some of the rich women football talent the country has
Some of the rich women football talent the country has

“We are earmarking the money for Cosafa Women Cup as government does not fund the women team. We will use this bonus to help them gain exposure. Last time, we reached Cosafa women semi-finals and with the talent identified from Airtel Rising Star tournament and other competitions, we believe we can qualify for the World Cup,” said Nyirenda.

The local women team has been inactive since last year when FAM suspended its activities for the game to get organised at the grass roots. FAM technical subcommittee is expected to name a coach for the women side that was previously managed by Temwa Msuku, who is outside the country on Army assignment.

A letter circulated by Fifa secretary general Jérôme Valcke explains that the first $250 000 (K100 million) will be paid out immediately to each of the 209 member associations including FAM, once relevant application forms have been received.

At least 15 percent of the bonus must be used for women’s football, a stipulation that ought to result in a near immediate injection of at least $7.8 million into the women’s game around the world, added the letter.

The balance, however, will only be confirmed “when the final financial results are known at the end of 2014”, with the additional $500 000 (K200 million) bonus paid out “at the start of 2015”.

Valcke states that the bonus is intended for “the development of football at national level and should be used in accordance with the long-term development plan of your member association”.

 

 

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