Scarcity of pitches haunts U-14 schools league
The Ministry of Education has admitted that scarcity of pitches in schools will be a stumbling block to the smooth running of the newly introduced Under-14 Primary Schools National Football League.
The competition, which will be funded by the Ministry of Education and the world football governing body, Fifa, through the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), is expected to boost the structure, stature and texture of football in the country.
However, sports desk officer in the ministry, Paul Silungwe, said on Wednesday that the shortage of playgrounds is for training sessions and matches is giving them a headache.
He said this is why league games will initially be played at zonal level, among primary schools in the cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu as they strategise on how to improve existing grounds and develop new pitches in schools countrywide.
“The issue of venues for the forthcoming National Schools League is a big challenge for us. We cannot improve sports in the absence of grounds that are much closer to pupils.
“Officials from our ministry, FAM, Massa [Malawi Schools Sports Association]and teachers will this weekend meet to discuss how to deal with such a problem. However, at present, we have clustered some city schools so that they can share available pitches within their locality,” Silungwe said.
He, nevertheless, said the ministry is taking stringent measures to stop the trend of constructing other infrastructures on existing school grounds. He added there are plans to put up community grounds closer to three or more schools whose pitches were consumed by non-sports infrastructures.
According to a recent survey by Nation on Sunday, out of 32 primary schools in three Blantyre’s zones of Ndirande, Chilomoni and Zingwangwa, only four schools have sports grounds.
At Naotcha and St Pius primary schools in Zingwangwa zone, their pitches were eaten up by school blocks and a hall respectively.
Fifa has pumped $10 000 (about K4 million) into the initial phase of the project while the Ministry of Education will disclose their contribution during the launch of the event next month.
According to FAM technical director John Kaputa, the league will complement the yet to be reinstated Blantyre and Lilongwe Mayors’ trophies.
He said the forthcoming league will be a unique contest as it will be much broader and strict on the age-range of players compared to the Mayors trophy and other schools football competitions that shaped careers of legendary Flames stars such as Kinnah Phiri, Jack Chamangwana and Peterkins Kayira.
FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said the league will be a benchmark for selecting under-14 and Under-17 national team players to participate in Zone VI and Cosafa Under-17 Tournament slated for Swaziland in 2016.
On the sustainability of the competition, in case Fifa stops funding the event, Nyirenda and Silungwe said they are in discussion with a number of corporate companies on possible partnership in the near future.
Kayira, one of the shining stars to emerge from the primary school competitions in the 1970s, welcomed the league.
“As someone who emerged through that process, I am impressed that finally the ministry and football authorities have realised that the soccer standards can only improve if we have good development structures in schools.
“However, they should find mature and qualified football coaches to work with teachers in identifying and nurturing talents in schools so as to strike a balance between the pupil’s academic prowess and technical football skills,” he said.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Justin Saidi said the ministry has not yet been approached on the introduction of the league, but they are ready to provide necessary support. He described the initiative as a welcome idea.
