Tough times ahead

The 2022 season, which kicks off on February 26, is set to be another nightmare following FAM’s announcement that affiliates will not get Covid-19 Relief Fund to cushion them from the economic impact of playing without fans.

With government restrictions on fans during matches still in place, football stakeholders will once again be denied their main source of revenue—gate collections.

Last year, Fifa disbursed $1 million (about K770 million) for men’s football and $500 000 (about K385 million) to women’s football to cushion them from the financial impact of Covid-19.

But Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said in an interview that the Covid-19 Relief Fund was a one-off thing.

He said: “It is our sincere hope that things will normalise sooner than expected, otherwise, Covid-19 remains an ongoing challenge. There won’t be any Covid-19 relief funds. Fifa was clear that it was a one-off.”

To make matters worse, FAM Covid-19 Task Force chairperson Chimango Munthali confirmed that the season will kick off following the government guidelines which restrict 250 people for outdoor activities.

He said: “The government restrictions are still in place. It’s 250 people for outdoor activities including football.

“Remember they only gave us a waiver for the Blantyre derby. So we still have to fully follow the guidelines of 250 people at matches as well as social distancing, sanitising and washing hands.”

The development has made TNM Super League clubs, who got K160 million from FAM last season, to panic.

The worst affected are those clubs without sponsors or steady sponsorship.

TN Stars general secretary Bester Ngwale said they can foresee another nightmare in the 2022 season.

He said: “Though gate collection revenue does not maximise the profits of the team, it does upset the burden of operation costs. Supporters have a diverse role apart from facilitating income inflow to clubs. With such a scenario it is a shame that they won’t be able to exercise their role.”

But the GS said TN Stars will not sit on their laurels as the club aims at contributing to the positive development of players and Kasungu communities.

He said: “The pandemic is a teaching experience to set, monitor and evaluate realistic objectives into achieving the financial independence of the team even in the absence of sponsorship.

“We intend to explore more business opportunities to maximise the welfare of employees, and put measures to shield the team from any external insecurities.

“As a team, we have learned that the little things applied with the most effort, are the ones whose aggregate is significant.

“We look forward with much excitement to this season, working as a team both on and off the pitch to bring a better future than in the past.”

Newly promoted Rumphi United general secretary Jones Mockton also expressed desperation at not utilising their stadium to raise revenue.

He said: “This will affect us a lot, considering the fact that we are a community team and without a sponsor. Which means we also rely on gate collections to run the affairs of the team.”

Mockton also pleaded with FAM to consider bringing back the Covid-19 relief fund for clubs.

He said: “The Covid-19 Relief funds were meant to cushion clubs because there were no gate collections. So, why removing the funds while no spectators will be allowed at the stadium?”

The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) also got K15 million from FAM to cushion them from match organisation costs last season.

With sponsors TNM plc sponsorship not covering expenses such as referees’ dues, paramedics, security and

 stewards, general secretary Williams Banda said they are equally affected.

He said: “Right now we are hoping to find other means of covering these costs in the absence of the FAM relief fund and gate revenue.”

Commenting on the financial implications of playing without fans in the absence of Covid-19 relief funds, Munthali said the FAM Task Force on Covid-19 will meet to plan on the way forward.

He said: “Of course the only way out of the situation is to engage the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 to allow more supporters at matches, considering that the number of new Covid-19 cases has dropped.”

Apart from Sulom and clubs, women’s football received K375 million from FAM.

National football teams got K225 million for camping and travel costs.

The association also set aside K41 million for youth football, K7.5 million for referees and K7.5 million for coaches.

Regional associations were each allocated K22.5 million, beach soccer got K15 million while 62 regional Premier League teams shared K62.2 million.

K112 million went towards personal protective equipment, match operational costs for health personnel was allocated K37 million