FAM on guard

FAM says it has come up with four options, including cancelling the season in the event of persistence of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The pandemic, which as of yesterday had claimed nearly 70 000 lives and registered ABOUT 1.2 million cases globally, has halted sport worldwide and football across the world faces a whirlwind of uncertainty with most leagues and associations taking all precautions to ensure stakeholders are not at risk.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu said the other options are: resuming the season end April all things being equal, compressing the season with a crush calendar of activities and extending the season to accommodate all activities

He said: “These are the options that we might have to consider depending on the situation, but for now let’s wait and see on how the future will pan out.

“These are extraordinary circumstances and we must expect that there will be extraordinary measures taken to deal with the situation.

“Whatever the case, we will need to weigh the merits and demerits of each option because of the shock that will be caused.”

The FAM president said from a planning point of view, they are giving themselves one month to review the situation and take necessary action.

“Ultimately, we will need to meet and consult all stakeholders on the way forward thereafter,” he said.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president Tiya Somba Banda said they will review the options holistically.

“At the moment it is a bit premature to settle for one option since the uncertainty remains in the world. A wait and see strategy is the most appropriate at the moment as Covid-19 developments continue,” he said.

However, Be Forward Wanderers chairperson Symon Sikwese and football analyst George Kaudza Masina feel that cancelling the season may not be an ideal option.

He said: “I would suggest planning for resumption in May and have a compressed season. FAM and Sulom must also consult clubs before making decisions.

“Cancelling a whole season would be too costly to clubs and hopefully we won’t reach that stage. It’s better to accept the situation and revisit our calendar.”

On his part, Masina said: “Cancelling the season would be a disaster for Malawi football though inevitable with the current situation. Resumption of the season end April seems not to be practical but might be ideal all things being equal.”

Bullets’ chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “Much as the proposed measures are pertinent in the wake of the pandemic, it would be ideal for FAM to engage all the concerned stakeholders and bang heads together.

“We are mindful of the restrictions on conferences and meetings but I am sure a solution can be made where all stakeholders can discuss and map the way forward together.”