Thursday, January 21, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports National Sports

FAM softens up

by Garry Chirwa
16/09/2020
in National Sports
4 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

FAM says it will extend the cut-off point for a delayed season kick-off from end September to November as it awaits a determination by the  Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 on sports resumption.

Two months ago, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) set September 30 as the deadline for starting the delayed season or else it would be declared lost.

RelatedHeadlines

Super League break affects Flames coach’s plans

FAM ex-co approves women’s national league

Temwa’s transfer second highest in 2020

But even if the greenlight were given now, the season would still kick off end October or early November as both FAM and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) already stated that players would need six weeks of intensive training and friendly matches to get back in shape.

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu yesterday said in the current circumstances, they are bound to extend the cut-off point.

soccer | The Nation Online
Players will require six weeks of intensive training

He said: “We can only tell when the season will resume when  we have been authorized to start playing football. It also depends on the conditions if any that will be imposed.

“But that said, we could adjust and the season can start this year upon being given the greenlight. A long lay off will not do the players, clubs and the entire football family any good. So, we will seize any opportunity to bounce back immediately.

“Teams would immediately resume training in preparation for kick-off. From our side, all systems are ready to fly. The clubs are ready to start training even tomorrow.

“All we need is to be set free and the rest will follow. Nothing is cast in stone because we are in charge of the football calendar. We will revise it to suit our needs. In my view, we are not far-fetched from our earlier projects of September with October being the worst-case for kick-off.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda also said they are ready with the logistics such as fixtures and all they are waiting for is the approval from the authorities.

“Of course, teams will need about six weeks of preparations for players to regain fitness and be ready for competitive football,” he said on Monday.

Nyasa Big Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “The uncertainty of football resumption is not only creating psychological trauma in football players and club owners, it is also not good for our football generally. At whatever point, it is better to restart than completely cancel the football season. If we cancel, Malawi will lag behind for international tournaments and our football season will be a standalone.”

On his part, Silver Strikers chief executive officer Thoko Chimbali said they would prefer that the season should still proceed “and maybe reduce the preparation period to four weeks”.

He said: “The onus will be on the teams’ management to raise fitness levels of their players within four weeks.

“The good thing is that most of the players have been working so hard by themselves [at least for us].”

However, Civil Service (Civo) United general secretary Ronald Chiwaula was of a different view, saying: “Our take is that cancelling the 2020 football calendar would be ideal to concentrate on a fresh start altogether.”

In an interview on Monday, Minister of Information Gospel Kazako, who is also government spokesperson, said sports resumption is being treated with urgency.

He said: “The subcommittee is working on TORs [terms of reference] on what is it that they can present to the main committee to ensure that there is compliance.

“A decision will then be made by the main committee after the submissions from the subcommittee have been made. But they were asked to do that very quickly and treat it as a matter of urgency.”

Sports activities were suspended in march this year as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus.

Previous Post

ACB speaks on Cement probe

Next Post

Comesa moves to ease clearing of goods

Related Posts

Mwase: Situation is very bad
National Sports

Super League break affects Flames coach’s plans

January 21, 2021
DD Sunshine (in blue) taking on Blantyre Zero during the national championship early this year
National Sports

FAM ex-co approves women’s national league

January 21, 2021
temwa | The Nation Online
National Sports

Temwa’s transfer second highest in 2020

January 20, 2021
Next Post
Kapwepwe | The Nation Online

Comesa moves to ease clearing of goods

Trending Stories

  • Escaped South African bail: Bushiris

    Bushiri says not seeking political intervention

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Malawi closes in on hefty US deal

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tonse faulted on former presidents’ benefits

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Covid-19 initiative raises K18.3m in 2 days

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Vendors back on streets amid Covid-19 surge

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Opinions and Columns

Business Unpacked

Towards Malawi2063, lessons from Vision 2020

January 20, 2021
Rise and Shine

Never give up on resolutions

January 20, 2021
In pursuit of development

India’s vaccine drive

January 20, 2021
My Thought

Don’t relax, Covid-19 still here

January 17, 2021
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.