Why Flames cannot learn from Chipolopolo Part II

Poorly-funded and poorly-prepared—psychologically and tactically—the outcome of the Flames’ funded holiday in Chad this week can, barring miracles that are sadly normalised, only be poor.

I sound like a hard core sadist and an alarmist, huu? Well, it can only be football truth if it hurts. Hard.

I equally bear scars from my journey as a football fanatic and now sports journalist witnessing the Flames fall then fail. Many times!

So, where I am driving you at? In respect of feedback, this is a continuation of last week’s entry. Ready?

Have you ever wondered why there is nothing like the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) national football team but just Malawi national football team (s)?

Well the Flames and all national football teams—just like other national sports teams—are government’s responsibility. In football, FAM is there to manage football, the national teams, inclusive.

It is a case of a government being like a mother entrusting her baby in the care of a nanny. The Flames are the baby in this analogy.

On administrative and technical football matters such as failure to develop quality players, coaches, maintaining sound structures and planning, FAM takes the blame.

But on matters of funding government takes the biggest chunk of blame. There is simply no sufficient political will to turn the Flames into a giant force.

The tragedy in Malawi is that the people who have the money, business ideas and the power are not interested in investing in football.

Unfortunately, football is all the masses have to grant them temporary relief and pride in the face of unceasing socioeconomic problems.

Yes, government has other more pressing matters affecting the poor. The K100 million spent on the Flames would save the lives of millions if used for purchasing drugs for our hospitals.

Get me right, I am not advocating for government’s increased national team funding but prioritising. Government must stick to its core responsibility of funding national team programmes instead of dividing its resources to even football cups and teams.

Let we forget that Malawi government claimed a first in Football Planet to even fund the Super League in the 2005/06 season.

It was timely intervention but caution must be taken because some interventions are recipes for laziness. Most Malawi football administrators are lazy.

It should be FAM and Sulom’s responsibility to ensure that there are enough cup competitions and that clubs survive financially.

If the two supreme football bodies on the land cannot be models of generating football business ideas, then their respective office bearers must get out of office for letting down Malawi football.

Come on, Capital Hill this is the 21st century, your coffers cannot meet all the needs of Malawi football.