Beach Soccer exe-co turns down FAM order

Beach Soccer Association (BSA) executive committee has turned down Football Association Malawi (FAM) order to hold elective annual general meeting (AGM) on July 20, saying they still have mandate to up to August 4 2022.

The committee says in a statement that the order was wrong and ignored the provisions of the FAM Statutes.

“In your letter, you ordered that Beach Soccer Association should hold an elective meeting.

“Article 16(1) (b) of the FAM Statutes places an obligation on a member association to ensure the proper and democratic election or appointment of its decision making bodies (at least four years).”

Further, Article 16(1) (l) obligates member associations “to ensure that their bodies are either elected or appointed according to a procedure that guarantees the complete independence of the election or appointment.”

“Furthermore, Article 21(2) of the FAM Statutes clearly states that “the members’ bodies shall either be elected or appointed.”  It is in view of the foregoing that Beach Soccer organised its meeting on August 5 2018 to appoint new office bearers as per the forwarded minutes.

The letter further reads that FAM Statutes, which provide for powers and functions of FAM Executive Committee does not empower it to order its affiliates to hold an elective meeting.

“We are of the considered view that FAM overstepped its mandate when it directed that Beach Soccer should hold an elective meeting. There is nothing in the FAM Statute that mandates FAM Executive Committee to dissolve member association committees.

“Article 42 of the FAM Statutes which provides for powers and functions of FAM Executive Committee does not empower FAM Executive Committee to order its affiliates to hold an elective meeting.

“We would also like to bring to your attention Article 21 of the FAM Statutes which give right to member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties. It is clear that your order is irrelevant that we should hold election on July 20, 2020.”

Commenting on the development, FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said FAM will continue with the activities pertaining to BSA election as communicated to.

“We have less to say on the reservation made by the committee. What we can highlight at the moment is that we are continuing with the election process,” he said.

FAM ordered beach soccer to hold polls on July 20 this year following BSA affiliates petition the body on May 23 to dissolve the executive committee within seven days on the basis that its tenure of office expired two years ago.

Spokesperson for the affiliates Wakisa Mwambetania was quoted as having said they are looking forward to the elections.