Goodall shrugs off Flames claims

Finance, Economic Planning and Development Minister Goodall Gondwe has shrugged off claims by FAM that government is refusing to release extra budgetary support to the Flames, saying they must do with what government has allocated to sports in the 2014/15 National Budget.
“I was surprised hearing this. You may remember in the budget there is money devoted to sports and it is up to the managers of sports, the Ministry of Sports or the Sports Council, to decide on how they will spend. You cannot be given money for sports then come with a special request for a particular activity,” said Gondwe yesterday.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda announced on Tuesday that they may have to pull out after the Flames’ main sponsors, Malawi government, declared there would be no extra budgetary support to the team.
The Flames need K62 million to complete its remaining group matches against Mali and Ethiopia on November 11 and 15 2014.
But Gondwe said it was unfair expecting government to entertain extra budgetary requests, adding that this issue is not about government policy, but living within means.
“That is up to them. When they gave us their needs they should have known that this particular activity was to take place. I don’t blame anybody, we have done our job,” he said when asked as to who is to blame on the issue.
The ministry’s allocation for the year is pegged at over K1 billion (US$2 150 538) with some K500 million (US$1 075 269) going to settle Kamuzu Stadium flood lights repairs and some K200 million (US$430 108) for Mzuzu Sports Centre construction.
The Sports Council, which is government sports policy implementation arm, is yet to release the breakdown of money allocated to sports associations.
The sports council’s executive secretary George Jana said he fully shared the minister’s position as all sports associations were told to expect similar grants they received last year and must prioritise on activities.
“The general advice is that people must realise that money is never enough. Therefore, whatever you budget, live within your means and where there is inadequate funding, then you identity additional funding. This thing of associations living on the basis of what government will provide is not on. You don’t form an association on assumption that you will get money from government for all your activities,” explained Jana.
FAM, which risks suspension from football activities, including next two editions of Afcon and $5 000 (about K2.5 million at the exhange rate of K505/dollar) fine, says it needs over K200 million to fulfill all its engagements. Fifa also gives FAM an annual grant of $250 000 (about K126.5 million)for football development. The association also gets a levy from every local game in addition to international matches.
However, in a separate interview yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Grace Chiumia has blamed government’s failure to provide more supplementary funding to the Flames partly on Cashgate.
Chiumia said the ripple effects of the free-for-all plundering of government coffers has had far-reaching consequences across all sections of life, including sports.
“Cashgate has deprived funds to social sectors and has contributed to the Flames current predicament.
“But we have not given up, we are trying ways and means to find a solution. I can give my word to the nation that we are not just sitting, we are concerned with the situation,” said Chiumia.