Tabitha’s loud cry
Scorchers captain Tabitha Chawinga says it is worrisome that preference in the country is given to men’s football in terms of financial and material support.
The Italy-based forward said this in reaction to Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) revelation that the national women’s football team’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics Africa qualifiers is uncertain due to lack of funds.
The Inter Milan Women’s star said failure to take part in the tournament would be a recipe for disaster.
She said: “The Olympics are the best platform for exposure.
“If you look at Zambia, they are not far off, but they do well because they are fully supported by their government and Football Association.
“Zambia have about six to seven players based overseas because their national team is well exposed, resulting in their players being spotted.
“They are well supported by their government unlike us as we only look up to FAM.”
The Malawi women’s football export added that she feels women football is unfairly treated in the country despite its potential to do well on the international stage.
She said: “Even in terms of sponsorship, women’s football does not enjoy corporate support unlike other countries and this is frustrating.
“It is high time we got equal treatment as our male counterparts. The Flames are currently engaged in tune-ups in preparation for the [2023] Africa cup of Nations qualifiers and will surely get funding for the activities no matter what, but not us.
“I just hope things will get better for women football.”
Tabitha further said it is frustraring that the Scorchers have not had any international friendly ahead of major competitions for the last seven years.
“And yet the nation expects the team to do well?” she wondered.
During the previous Tokyo Olympics qualifiers, the Scorchers were knocked out by Kenya in the second round after losing 5-3 to Kenya on aggregate.
In the first round, Malawi beat Mozambique 14-1 on aggregate in two-legged ties.
However, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said funding is not available for the Scorchers’ participation in the Olympics qualifiers.
He said this after the world football governing body Fifa revealed that the qualifiers would start anytime from March this year.
Nyamilandu said: “The Scorchers participation in the Olympics is subject to availability of funds. At the moment, our coffers are dry and we have no alternative source of funding.”
Asked if FAM has already approached government and other stakeholders for funding, the FAM president said: “We already submitted a supplementary budget request to the government and we are waiting for response.”
Fifa has shown keen interest to promote women football as the body’s president Gianni Infantino confirmed last month that the world football governing body had endorsed the expansion of the Olympic women’s football tournament from 12 to 16 teams, something that increases qualification chances for teams such as the Scorchers.
