Football Players Association (FPA) has accused Football Association of Malawi (FAM) of undermining the association which seeks to ensure good working conditions and safeguard footballers’ rights.
FPA general secretary Ernest Mangani in an interview accused FAM of sabotaging the association’s efforts to create a good work environment for players.
He said FAM has deliberately ignored FPA’s efforts to, among other s , ensu re teams are adhering to minimum wage requirement when paying players as determined by government.
Said Mangani: “We still have teams in the top-flight league that are giving players salaries below the minimum wage such as Mighty Tigers FC and Mzuzu City Hammers FC.
“We received such complaints from players. Some players are playing for the teams without clear contracts. Players are playing in unsuitable venues.
“Al l these are against the standards laid down by the players’ welfare body. We have been asking FAM to look into [these], but nothing has been done on the part of FAM.
“Sadly, the new FAM leadership keeps on ignoring us whenever we knock on their door for a meeting over the so many shor t fal l s concerning players’ welfare in the country.
“We tried to take the matter to Malawi National Council of Sports [MNCS] and they equally did not give us the expected attention.”
Mangani also accused FAM of sidelining them in a number of areas they feel would be part of deliberations.
“For instance, the inspection exercise FAM is conducting to certify venues that can host Super League games ahead of the new season. We should be part of the exercise because venues form a bigger part of players’ welfare.
“For a venue to be certified to host games, we are supposed to ascertain its condition in the best interest of the player in terms of preventing injuries and security, but they chose to ignore us and it is business as usual,” he added.
Mangani also said in other countr ies, such associations are recogni sed by nationa l associations.
For example, in South Africa, a player cannot be registered to play in Premier Soccer League if he is not registered with the body because it [monitors players’ welfare as stipulated by Fifa.
A Mighty Tigers player who did not want to be named confirmed the poor working conditions at the club, saying they sometimes go for months without a salary.
MNCS spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa in an interview said as a government agency, they only interfere on matters involving sports bodies duly registered with them.
“We believe the grouping is under FAM, therefore, we cannot handle matters per taining to FAM affiliates as that will mean interference in the management and operations of FAM. Such a matter can only be brought to us by FAM,” he said.
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , FAM co m p e t i t i o n s a n d communications di rec tor Gomezgani Zakazaka when contacted blamed FPA for not being well organised to get the expected attention from football fraternity.
“FAM is prepared to work with stakeholders that are critical to the development of the sport. We request the body to get organised and come on the table if they have issues f o r o u r attention w h i c h t h e y h a v e n o t d o n e over the years. Take note that minimum wage is part of the club licensing requirement and is enforced.
“FAM puts the welfare of players at heart this is why our club licensing rules enforce minimum wage. If you look at our Player Status and Trans f er s rule they incorporate clauses that protects players movement and contracts.
“FAM i s prepared to work with stakeholders that are critical to the development of games like players welfare body. We request the body to get organised and come on the table if they have issues for our attention which they have not done over the years.
“Ask them as union what are they doing on their own? How many players are active members? Where are they based?
“We gave them cash for starting in 2020, what have they done with the money? Nothing to point at,” he said.
On hi s par t , soccer ana l y st K el v in Moyo advised FPA to establish proper structures and entice a good number of players if it is to be taken seriously by other stakeholders.
“They need consultation from other Fifpro members on a number of critical i ssues i .e. membership and its advantages. I heard Dynamos veterans wi l l be coming this month to Malawi wi th Desmond Mar i ngwa wh o i s t h e president of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe which is a member of Fifpro since 2010, one of a few members from Africa, they can meet him and learn one or two things,” he said.
Meanwhi l e, FPA has repor ted t h e i s su e to Minist r y of Youth and Sports for its intervention.
Ministry of Youth and Sports spokesperson MacMillan Mwale said they are ready to mediate between FAM and FPA.
