FAM to respond on petition through ministry

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says it will respond through the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development should the petition on Flames’ performance from a group of concerned football fans be tabled in Parliament today.

Parliament’s Social and Community Affairs Committee chairperson Richard Chimwendo Banda said earlier this week that the petition would be tabled today.

But FAM president Walter Nyamilandu yesterday said: “As per protocol, FAM and RVG [Ronny van Geneugden] will provide the necessary feedback to the ministry to clarify matters in Parliament.”

On his part, RVG, who is with the Under-20 national team in Zambia for the Cosafa tournament, said: “I think it will be proper to wait until the issue is tabled in Parliament other than react to the move by the fans to present the petition.

“Suffice to say that when the issue is tabled, FAM will provide guidance on the way forward,” said RVG.

The petition, which the self-styled Concerned Football Fans in Malawi leaders Kalowe Ajasi and Henry Gome signed, requests Parliament to help “resolve issues concerning the Flames’ poor performance and inept FAM leadership and coaching panel”.

Dated November 30 2018 and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, Leader of the House Kondwani Nankhumwa, Leader of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera, Chimwendo Banda and all legislators, the petition wants Parliament to “deliberate the issues and take appropriate interventions to save the national team and football in the country”.

Part of the petition, reads: “Having noticed gross incompetence on the part of Flames’ coaching panel and FAM leadership, coupled with a string of poor results for our beloved national football team and increasing cases of theft and fraud in football circles that go unattended, we petition Parliament to deliberate.”