FAM, Council differ on Flames budget
FAM on Wednesday submitted a K300-million ($800 000) budget to the Malawi National Council of Sports for the Flames during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stage.
However, Sports Council executive secretary George Jana said there is need for thorough discussions for the football governing body to clarify certain issues first.
The Flames will play six Group B matches—two each against Mali, Ethiopia and Algeria— within a period of about three months (between September and November this year).
“That amount alone is equal to a budget of a parastatal, but what I can say is that there are some issues that need to be clarified because there appears to be a problem on who determines what in terms of expenditure.
“For instance, in the recent game against Benin, from nowhere, the players were offered K100 000 each and we would want to find out where the extra finances come from because the assumption is that they also have extra funding which could be used to offset other expenses. It is things such as these that confuse the whole thing,” said Jana.
He reiterated that FAM and Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) still ignore government’s financial contribution and instead, the recognition only goes to their respective corporate sponsors.
“For instance during the games against Chad and Benin, there were Carlsberg banners around the stadium, similarly with the netball team, Airtel Malawi only sponsored the team’s local camping while government met travel expenses, but the picture being painted is as if government did nothing. So, it’s like government is being taken for a ride.
“The question that comes is how does government come in, or is it the perception that it is government’s responsibility, but who said so?” queried Jana.
He further said FAM will have to justify the K300 million budget.
Nevertheless, Jana said as long as the issues stated are cleared, government should be able to provide funding. FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda asked to be called at a later stage to give the breakdown of the K300 million budget, but could not be reached later.
“Government has always come in even when budget has been exhausted,” Jana said.
However, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said the fact that the national soccer team’s sponsors are being recognised should not be misconstrued that government’s role is undermined.
“That is where we are at different wavelength swith our colleagues at the Sports Council. We were asked to find a sponsor to complement government funding and obviously the corporate sponsors will need to get mileage out of it.
“Partners cannot substitute the role of government which plays a major role in the development of not only football but sports in general. So, we need to be at the same wavelength with the Sports Council,” said Nyamilandu.
