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Nyamilandu turns down fourth term calls

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu has snubbed calls from some affiliates to reconsider his decision not to seek a fourth term when the association goes to the polls in December this year.
With the elections just six months away, National Football Coaches Committee (NFCC), National Youth Football Committee (NYFC) and Central Region Football Association (CRFA) have started strategising for the elections and are planning to persuade Nyamilandu to consider seeking another term.
The FAM constitution has no limit on how many terms one can serve in FAM executive. However, Nyamilandu, who last year declared that he will not seek a fourth term, has stuck to his guns.
“I am honoured and humbled by their appeal for me to stand for re-election, but for now, nothing has changed from my earlier position. Thank you,” wrote the FAM boss in a brief response to a questionnaire on Thursday.
NFCC general secretary Benjamin Kumwenda set the ball rolling during the recent Confederation of African Football (CAF) A Licence coaching course when he announced that coaches met and agreed to persuade Nyamilandu to reconsider his decision.

Nyamilandu has delined to be 'Fam's Blatter'
Nyamilandu has delined to be ‘Fam’s Blatter’
“We met as coaches and they delegated me to ask the president to seriously reconsider his decision based on what he has done for us coaches in general.
“Under his administration, FAM has initiated advanced training courses and we now have A and B licensed coaches, it is for such reasons that we want him to continue. We now have a proper structure.
“We want leaders that are visionary and if there are others out there, let them come forward and sell us their manifestos. This is the right time,” said Kumwenda.
Asked if they have already taken up the issue with Nyamilandu, Kumwenda said: “I left a speech with the FAM general secretary [Suzgo Nyirenda] in which that issue is contained, complete with Bible verses, we asked the GS to give it to him and once he reads it, he will understand our point as to why we want him to reconsider his decision”.
NYFC chairperson Mabvuto Missi also claimed his committee had endorsed Nyamilandu.
“We are not saying that there are no capable people out there, but so far, there is only one person who has expressed interest [Owen Chomanika], but even him has not come forward to sell us his plans; Beyond that there is nobody, so we are looking at the time frame.
“We see this blankness that is there and we are getting worried because we do not want people coming at the 11th hour because it is often such people who do not have sound ideas. That is why we want him [Nyamilandu] to continue. After all, everybody can see what he has done,” he said.
Missi said in terms of youth football development, Nyamilandu has initiated the Under-14 youth league and facilitated formation of Under-14 national team.
“Under his administration, youth football has also benefited in terms of sponsorship for the Under-20 league,” he said.
Asked if this was his opinion or the consensus of his committee, Missi said: “We met as an executive to start strategising and what I am telling you is what was agreed.”
During a FAM extraordinary general meeting held in Mangochi in May last year, Nyamilandu said: “I came on a mission to revive the game technically, administratively and to woo back the sponsors and I believe I have achieved that and it is time to live the stage and let Malawi football thrive”.
However, before he was re-elected for the current term, he also announced that he would not seek re-election, but made a U-turn later on.
Nyamilandu has served as FAM president for 11 years.
So far, only Chomanika has come out to declare his interest for the FAM hot seat, promising to eradicate mediocrity while ensuring a functional association thriving on excellent leadership and long-term initiatives.

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