Make it bigger
President Lazarus Chakwera has dared football authorities to grow the newly- introduced Four Nations Tournament that Malawi is hosting by adding more teams to make it bigger.
The President said this last evening at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe where the First Couple hosted the four participating national football teams to a dinner.
Said Chakwera: “For us in Malawi, we are determined to take all the sports disciplines in which we have a competitive advantage to the next level, and football is one of them. This determination is the reason why sports development is part of our human capital development strategy at the heart of the Malawi 2063.
“And we will stay on this path for as long as it takes until that day in the future when we will have the capacity to not just host a four nations cup like this one, but a 24-nations cup like the Africa Cup of Nations.”
He said it was an honour for the First Couple to host the teams.
Said the President: “The First Lady and I feel honoured to break bread with football royalty from our continent tonight. We have in our midst not just
one, not two, not three, but four senior football teams that are camped here in our capital to compete in the Four Nations Tournament.
“Football breaks down barriers by showing us that the good things we desire and long for as people are the same that other people long for. Football unites people of different backgrounds to share in the joys and sorrows of our shared humanity. We are happy to host you all and we wish you an exciting time.”
Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire thanked the President for hosting the four teams.
He said: “Hosting the teams here is a big motivation to the players and shows that you love sports. This tournament is one of such platforms that will help improve the performance of the Malawi National Football Team.”
Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya also expressed gratitude to the President for hosting the players to dinner.
He said: “This is a demonstration of commitment from your excellency towards the development of sports in the country. This is a testimony that you really want to develop sports.”
Zimbabwe Football Association general secretary Yvonne Mapika-Manwa, who spoke on behalf of the visiting teams, said the tournament has afforded her country a platform for an active competition after the long Fifa ban.
“On behalf of the three teams I thank you for taking time to host us by opening your home to us,” she said.
Besides hosts Malawi and Zimbabwe, other teams taking part are Zambia and Kenya. The tournament kicks off tomorrow at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe. Malawi, Zimbabwe and Kenya are also taking part in an Under-20 tournament being played at Silver Stadium within the capital cit
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