FAM awaits govt approval for camps

FAM has said it expects today Thursday to get an approval from government on the proposed camp trainings for the Flames and Under-17 national teams.

The Flames are expected to start camping on Sunday in preparation for a friendly game against Uganda on August 15, which is a build-up to a crucial Afcon qualifier against Ghana next month.

The Under-17 is supposed to go into camp on August 12 in preparation for a CAF Youth Championship match against Botswana next month.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said in an interview on Wednesday that government made a commitment to approve the budgets by today.

“All is set for the two teams to go into camp. Both squads have been finalised, so it is a matter of calling them for camping and government has assured us of funding,” said Nyirenda.

FAM technical director Jack Chamangwana said early camping for the Under-17 is vital as the team is new and needs at least a month to build coordination.

“The players have not been together as a team before as they were selected from the regions, so we need more time. We need at least two international friendly games with neighbouring countries such as Zambia or Tanzania.

“But we will also play a number of games locally with Super League teams. This competition is important to the future of Malawi football because that is where we are going to build a future national team,” said Chamangwana.

Flames face Ghana in a do-or-die two-legged qualifying round, whose winner will qualify for next year’s Afcon finals in South Africa.

The Under-17 bounce back to the competition since 2009 when they made history by qualifying to the finals of the CAF Youth Championship and the World Cup.