Expats pull out swimmers’ support

Local swimmers’ trip to the Africa Junior Championships in Lusaka, Zambia, next week has suffered a big blow as expatriates have withdrawn their support.This reaction follows the decision to bar participants who do not hold a Malawian passport.

Ten swimmers were scheduled to carry the Malawi flag at the international event that will act as qualifiers for next year’s mini-Olympic Games in China.

However, six participants have been dropped after organisers advised the Malawi Aquatic Union (MAU) to take only Malawi passport holders.

The disqualified athletes are children of expatriates who initially offered to provide transport, accommodation and food for the entire national team.

According to the junior national team coach, Charlton Nyirenda, all was well until the championships’ organisers insisted last week that they will use rules and regulations practised during Cana Zone IV Games where foreign passport holders do not contest.

This means only four Under-16 athletes, namely Tayamika Chang’anamuno, Makina Loka, Malaika Trindade and Scotland-based Joyce Tafatatha will travel to Zambia on November 27 alongside Nyirenda and team manager Monica Chang’anamuno for the four-day showpiece that starts on November 28.

One of the expatriates The Nation talked to yesterday refused to be mentioned as he said he saw no reason why the issue should have space in the press.

“Why do you want to publish this story? There is nothing worth publishing here. By the way, who gave you my phone number?” he asked.

Nyirenda said the withdrawal of support has crippled their budget, which was targeted at about K3 million. He said they now have no other option but to make do with the available K800 000 they got from the Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) for the trip.

“All along, we have been banking on the expatriates’ support, but now we are back to square one,” said Nyirenda, insisting that the trip is still on.

He said they have discussed with the organisers to find them affordable accommodation in Zambia and a well-wisher has offered to drive them in his personal car.

While expressing ignorance of the latest development, Sports Council executive secretary George Jana advised expatriates wishing to represent Malawi at international events to become citizens.

“Any national team has to be represented by passport holders of the country they live in. If expatriates want to carry the Malawi flag elsewhere, they need to naturalise themselves. If you go to England, for example, you cannot represent that country with a foreign passport. Our poverty should not compromise our nationality,” said Jana.

At the continental championships in Zambia, Malawi should expect stiff competition from the hosts, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, Rwanda and Algeria.

The Malawi squad is currently training at the African Bible College (ABC) Academy’s swimming pool in Lilongwe.