National Sports

FAM focuses on junior national teams

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has gone full throttle in reviving junior national teams in an effort to build a nursery for the senior team, the Flames.

The under 15, 17, and 20 national teams will all take part in major tournaments this year Nation on Sunday can reveal. The Under-15 is earmarked to play in Europe, the Under-17 is travelling to Mauritius for the Cosafa tournament this month, whereas as the Under-20 will be in South Africa in December for the Cosafa Cup, according to FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda.

The Junior Flames
The Junior Flames

He said despite not having junior national teams, youth football has always been vibrant through FMB Under-20 league, Airtel Rising Stars for Under-17, Copa Coca-Cola, the Fifa Under-15 League and Fifa Play for Health for school kids.

Nyirenda said the Under-17 will require K24 million for the Mauritius tournament and the Under-20 will also require a similar amount for the December tournament.

FAM paradigm shift come at a time when there have been calls for the Flames to go on a sabbatical following a spate of poor results. However, FAM first vicepresident James Mwenda said the fact that the association is investing in the junior national teams does not mean they are ignoring the Flames since between now and next year there are no major events for the senior team.

FAM is working with Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) in building the Under-17 national team. Massa general secretary Blackson Malamula said they were glad to contribute towards the process.

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