Teams’ patience with FAM wearsthin over prizes
Some second-tier regional football league clubs have accused the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) of dilly-dallying to give them their prizes for last season.
The association sponsors the First Division Moto leagues in all the three regions and although the tournaments ended early January, they are yet to honour the prizes.
The champions are supposed to get K2 million, runners-up K1.5 million with the third and-fourth-placed teams pocketing K1 million and K750 000, respectively.
Southern Region champions Ekhaya United and their runners-up Superfert FC have said the situation has affected their preparations for next season in the Premier Division.
In an interview yesterday, Ekhaya coach Jimmy Zakazaka said: “We have been approaching the Southern Region Football Association [SRFA] on the issue and all we get are assurances.
“We were hoping that part of the money would help us prepare for the new season, but there is nothing.”
On his part, Superfert FC team manager Anderson Phiri said: “The delay in giving what is due to Superfert is negatively affecting our preparations.
“We planned to beef up our squad since some of our players have been poached by other teams, but in the absence of funds, we cannot afford and yet the new season is scheduled to kick off later this month,” he said.
Chipiku CRFA League Division One champions Mitundu Baptist FC director Alex Chimwenje also confirmed that they are yet to receive their prizes.
“But we are hopeful that we will receive the prize money soon. The situation has not affected our preparations as we are ready to have our first feel of the Premier Division action,” he said.
But FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the issue is being looked into.
“The challenge is that we do not have funds at the moment, but we have a green light somewhere and they should be getting their dues in due course,” he said.
Similarly, FAM is also racing against time to stage the National Women’s Championship, which is played at the end of the season.
National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adelaide Migogo said they are now taking a wait-and-see approach.
She said: “We took up the matter with FAM and we have been reminding them on the same, but all we get are assurances.
“Our concern is that time is running out and the new season is here.”
On his part, Gomezgani Zakazaka said: “That issue is also seriously being looked into.”
But reigning champions Kukoma Ntopwa FC owner Isaac Jomo Osman wondered where funds meant for the championship went.
