Football Association of Malawi (FAM) yesterday gave a detailed breakdown of K1.3 billion Covid-19 Relief from Fifa and Confederation of African Football (CAF), with much of the funds going towards elite football restart.
All stakeholders, including FAM affiliates and other partners such as the media, have been allocated funds, but it is women’s football that has received the lion’s share of K375 million.
National football teams are second on the list of beneficiaries, as they will get K225 million for camping and travel costs.
FAM has also splashed K160 million to be shared equally among 16 Super League clubs while Super League of Malawi (Sulom) will receive K15 million for its operations.
The association has also set aside funds for youth football (K41 million), referees (K7.5 million), coaches (K7.5 million), regional associations (K22.5 million), beach soccer (K15 million) and 62 regional Premier League teams (K62.2 million).
More funds will also go towards personal protective equipment (K112 million), matches operational costs for health personnel (K37 million) and e-ticketing (K26 million).
Football Journalists Association (FJA) and Sports Writers Association of Malawi (Swam) will share K7.5 million while Football Player Association (FPA) also gets K7.5 million.
Making the announcement yesterday at Mount Soche in Blantyre, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said they decided to distribute the funds to all its affiliates and partners considering that all stakeholders have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said:“FAM has over the past months conducted extensive consultations with all key stakeholders, including member associations, football clubs, players, fans and media to understand how best it can mitigate the impact of Covid-19.
“I am pleased to report that arising from these consultations; FAM has decided to use the Fifa Covid-19 funds as a stimulus package towards recovery of all key stakeholders by subsidising their costs of returning to active football.”
However, Nyamilandu said to access the funds, the beneficiaries have to meet conditions set by Fifa.
“FAM as guided by Fifa has put in place strict measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of these funds. Stakeholders will access this money on comply and access basis where they will be given conditions to fulfil in order to access funds. We would like to advise our stakeholders to comply with the regulations if they are to fully benefit from the programme,” he said.
FAM Covid-19 Task Force chairperson Chimango Munthali said so far, the association has between June and September spent K184.8 million for the FAM Covid-19 Relief First Phase.
He said: “For the record this money is from FAM’s operation and projects fund, our own funds. FAM is planning to run the programme up to December, but the FAM Task Force will continue to monitor the situation to determine continuity of the relief support.”
Be Forward Wanderers general secretary Victor Maunde said the Covid-19 Relief Funds will go a long way in helping the clubs as football resumes next month.
He said: “We are happy with the arrangement. In fact that is what we have been advocating and this is a prayer answered.”
FJA general secretary Mabvuto Kambuwe thanked FAM for the funding towards the association.
“It’s a step forward and we are really excited. The funds will be used for its intended purposes. As football journalists, we remain independent and professional in providing checks and balances,” he said.
FPA chairperson Jimmy Zakazaka said the association was grateful to FAM for recognising the effects of Covid-19 on players.
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