FAM shuts down amid Covid cases

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has temporarily shut down Mpira Village in Blantyre for two weeks amid Covid-19 cases among its staff.

The association’s 42 secretariat staff at the Chiwembe offices underwent Covid-19 tests over the weekend and eight tested positive for the virus.

The development brings the number of Covid-19 positives cases at Mpira Village to nine after competitions and communication director Gomezgani Zakazaka also tested positive last week.

FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda confirmed the development in an interview yesterday, saying the closure will enable them to disinfect the premises while those affected are on 14 days isolation.

However, Gunda said they had already planned to have all staff work from home even before some tested positive for the virus.

He said: “Even before Mr. Zakazaka tested positive, we had planned to have people working from home once Covid-19 cases started increasing.

“However, once he tested positive, we had to have all staff members tested because he was in contact with some of them who, in turn, were also in contact with others.

“After the results came positive for more staff members, it was obvious that we needed to fast-track the shutdown for two weeks to pave the way for disinfection and send those affected on isolation.”

However, Gunda said they will have a few members of staff working from home on strategic matters.

“We will maintain a very lean staff working from home on strategic matters and only come to office when it is absolutely necessary.  Otherwise, all meetings will be done virtually,” he said.

The FA’s shutdown comes just a day after government announced more strict Covid-19 prevention guidelines restricting public meetings to 50 from 100.

However, Super League of Malawi says this will not affect the league which is already in full swing.