FAM given until Friday to confirm U-17 Cosafa hosting
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has up to Friday to confirm if Malawi will host this year’s Cosafa Under-17 Championship which is also a qualifier for the CAF Under-17 Afcon.
The Cosafa Under-17 tournament was scheduled for next month, but the dates will likely change due to the Covid-19 pandemic which led to suspension of contact sports activities, including football.
Cosafa deputy chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda, who is responsible for competitions, confirmed asking all host nation of its six tournaments—Under-17 boys and girls, Under-20 men and women, senior men and women—to reaffirm their commitment by Friday.
He said: “It’s a normal procedure. Host nations are supposed to reaffirm their commitment to host the events by Friday. Right now, Mauritius have just communicated to us that they can’t host he Under-17 girls tournament which was postponed in March, due to financial impact of the Covid-19.
“We are now searching for a new host for this tournament. Likewise, FAM also has to reaffirm if they will go ahead and host the competition.”
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda said they still want to host the event after successfully hosting last year’s tournament in Blantyre. However, the association is still awaiting government’s response.
When asked on the progress, Malawi National Council of Sports acting executive secretary Henry Mereka said the confirmation was disturbed by Covid-19 pandemic.
But while appreciating the challenges FAM and government are facing due to Covid-19, Nyirenda, a Malawian, said the regional football governing body is also under pressure to confirm its competitions with Confederation of African Football (CAF) before their set deadline.
“Remember we get funding from Fifa Forward for the women’s and youth tournaments. We also have to confirm the competitions with them which can only be done once the hosts nation reaffirm this week,” he said.
FAM factored in the tournaments funding in its 2020/21 budget.
However, with the change in government after President Lazarus Chakwela emerged winner in the June 23 fresh presidential election, new Minister of Finance Felix Mlusu yesterday tabled a provisional three-month budget before a full budget is presented later.
Asked if this will affect hosting the Cosafa Under-17 tournament, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development spokesperson Williams Banda said it is up to the responsible ministry to decide.
The new administration is also expected to make a decision on whether football can restart in August.
