FAM snubs Chihana’s pledge on Cecafa

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has said it cannot take seriously government’s offer to fund Flames’ participation at this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup bearing in mind what happened last year.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu was reacting to Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana’s pledge that government would consider Flames participation at this year’s Cecafa Challenge Cup as well as the Under-20 Cosafa Youth Championship.

“We are mindful of the fact that government, through the minister, made a similar pledge last year, but it was never fulfilled and it led to players threatening to boycott the matches,” said Nyamilandu.

In December last year, Chihana told The Nation that government would pay the Flames’ dues before their quarter-final match against Kenya, but failed to fulfil the promise.

Chihana recently said despite government stand against extra funding, there is room for special cases.

“We are committed to sponsoring our national teams. In regard to the Under-20 participation in Lesotho and also the senior team trip to Kenya, government might make special concessions after further talks with Sports Council and FAM,” Chihana told The Nation.

But Nyamilandu said there was nothing official regarding the minister’s offer.

Chihana’s comments have coincided with rumours on social networks that a major opposition party (name withheld) was planning to fund Flames assignments.