Flames face K154m deficit
Malawi National Council of Sports has rejected Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) request for K154 million extra funding towards Flames’ Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) budget.
In a letter addressed to FAM general secretary, dated December 21, Sports Council states that the request was not approved.
Reads the letter in part: “Reference is hereby made to your letter on the above subject matter.
“We would like to inform you that your request for extra budgetary funds has not been approved.
“As you are aware, a request was made to Treasury by yourselves and was granted.”
Sports Council further stated that currently, Treasury is working on many commitments of this financial year, as such, it would be difficult to provide the additional funding.
“In this regard, therefore, we urge you to manage and be within the resources that you have and that in future, there is need to thoroughly confirm your requirements before making submission for funding,” reads part of the letter signed by Sports Council acting executive secretary Henry Mereka.
Three months ago, Treasury approved K401 million extra funding for the Flames’ 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers.
FAM president Walter Nyamilandu was elusive when contacted on the issue on Wednesday, saying the issue would be addressed during a press briefing later on.
He, however, confirmed during the press conference about the K154 million shortfall on their K525 million Afcon budget.
Said Nyamilandu: “The K154 million shortfall is meant for essential necessities such as players’ allowances. Without it, there will be chaos in the Flames camp during the continental showpiece as there could be protests over unpaid allowances among the players.
“Though we are faced with such a deficit, we are going ahead with our preparations, hoping against hope that new doors will open up as we reach out to our traditional sponsors the government, official sponsor FDH Bank and donors CAF/Fifa for a bailout.
“I assure you that we will do everything that we can in our will power to represent the country with dignity and honour, knowing our national pride is at stake.”
He has since appealed to the government, the corporate world and the well-wishers for financial assistance.
Nyamilandu also thanked the Flames Resource Mobilisation Task Force, which comprised corporate executives, for a commendable job in raising significant sums of money during the various fundraising initiatives that included fundraising golf tournaments.
Already, the task force has raised K127.4 million. K54 million was raised through the Kuipatsa Moto Flames VVIP Dinner which President Lazarus Chakwera hosted at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe last month while K73.4 million was raised from the Kuipatsa Moto Flames Golf Tournament at the Lilongwe Golf Club where Vice-President Saulos Chilima was the guest of honour.
FAM also entered into a technical partnership with Saudi Arabia Football Federation, which would host the Flames for 10 days ahead of the Afcon finals.
The Saudi Arabia FA has contributed a total of K156 million towards the national team’s Afcon budget. This includes overseas camping expenses, accommodation and airtickets to Saudi Arabia and Cameroon.
Nyamilandu clarified that the initial K1.2 billion budget that the Flames needed initially, included their expenses for the unsuccessful World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign.
He said: “Government bailed us out with K400 million and we had some funds from the corporate partners. However, part of it was used for the Flames World Cup qualifiers and we are now left with a shortfall for the Afcon finals. “We have tried our best to source the funds and now we have exhausted all our strength. We hope well-wishers will hear our cry for help.”
