Ex-players, officials hit out at FAM
A group of former football players and adminstrators have accused Football Association of Malawi (FAM) of lacking direction which has led into deterioration of football standards as evidenced by the Flames’ poor performance and allegations of gate revenue fraud.
The group, calling itself concerned citizens, is being led by former FAM general secretary (GS) Charles Nyirenda and ex-Flames players Peterkins Kayira and Willy Chambwinja. Others are football administrators Dennis Kachikho and Francis Shaba.
The group issued a statement at a press conference in Lilongwe on Friday which outlined a number of concerns which included “scandal-filled gate management, under performance of the national team and unshared and incoherent vision”.
The statement said Flames have become a “laughing stock with a poor coach and coaching panel.”
“There’s uncoordinated selection and no clear development plan apart from philosophy talk. The role of the technical director and technical panel are not clearly spelt out,” the statement reads in part.
The group also accused FAM of lacking direction as it does not have a clearly spelt out strategic plan regarding football development.
Said Nyirenda: “We are lacking direction because there’s no direction in terms football development. How do you expect football to develop when we are administering football in a casual way?”
On poor gate management, the group said it was shocking that “all games organised by FAM leave a mark of ticket scandals”.
Kayira said the football governing body was supposed to get tough and end the alleged gate collection fraud.
“We would also want the Anti-Corruption Bureau [ACB] to investigate these cases, including the recent one where about K5 million is alleged to have been swindled during the game between Be Forward Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets.”
Nyirenda said they decided to speak out because they felt duty bound to push for change in football administration.
“The points we have raised are the concerns of most Malawians. If you go on social media these are the concerns that most Malawians are sharing. And we want them to be addressed by FAM,” he said.
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said members of the group are entitled to their opnions.
He, however, said FAM was ready to meet them to share ideas on how to improve football in the country.
“If they are acting in good faith then we can have discussions on how to improve the game,” he said.
