Battle for regional associations begins
Domestic football campaign strategist Raphael Humba has cast his eyes on the chairpersonship of the Southern Region Football Association to be born when all regional leagues merge with their respective committees this October 25.
In eyeing the top seat, the incumbent Southern Region Football Committee (SRFC) chairperson, Raphael Humba is, by implication, challenging his Southern Region Football League (SRFL) counterpart Trouble Kalua, who is undecided but “not threatened at all. Ntchito zamanja anga zindichitira umboni. [the works of my hands will speak for me]”
Said Humba: “Personally, I would love to protect my position as chairperson. As a seasoned administrator, I have the knowledge and experience. My most immediate challenge is securing sponsorship for the league. It hurts me that the league is in the commercial city, yet it does not have sponsorship,”.
On instruction from Fifa which is against duplication of roles by these football entities, FAM ordered the SRFL to merge with the SRFC, the Central Region Football League (CRFL) with the Central Region Football Committee (CRFC) and the Northern Region Football League (NRFL) with the Northern Region Football Committee.
Kalua insisted that he is not troubled at all: “It is too early. We have set up a working underground committee to see how we can go about the merger; looking at pros and cons. I want to make a decision that is good for football and not selfish interests.”
FAM will meet all the regional affiliates this Saturday to give them guidelines on how they will go about the mergers. The CRFC general secretary Ibrahim Kalonga yesterday said they would wait for such a meeting before vying for the positions.
The Central Region elections might put on collision course CRFC chairperson Austin Ajawa with the CRFL boss Dini Josaya Banda. The CRFL general secretary Benard Harawa yesterday said they would decide by October 15 on which positions to contest.
“We have not yet concluded, but indications are positive. However, if we could have the chairperson and the office of general secretary, that would be better,” explained Harawa, while his NRFL counterpart Alfred Gunda and NRFC chairperson Peter Chavula insisted that positions were not an issue.
“We are coming together as a unit. Football needs to continue. We are looking at the best way of moving into this new thing. The roles may be different, but the football activities are the same. We are not looking at things as antagonism for positions. FAM will guide us how we can harmonise our constitution,” Gunda explained.
The mergers, being made in line with FAM’s new constitution, will render most positions obsolete. The mergers will reduce FAM affiliates, which vote during polls such as the one next December, from 12 to nine. Other affiliates are the Super League of Malawi, National Women Football Association, National Youth Football Association, National Football Coaches Association, National Football Referees Association and the Beach Soccer National Association.
