Jomo launches soccer tourney to fight elderly abuse
Former Big Bullets supporters committee chairperson Isaac Jomo Osman on Sunday launched a K300 000 (about $408) football tournament aimed at fighting abuse against the elderly in Bangwe Township, Blantyre.
According to Osman, the Kukhala Nkhalamba Sichifukwa Football Tournament responds to the “growing tendency among some people to accuse their elders of practising witchcraft in the area.
Osman said he hopes the competition, which will run for 10 weeks and involve 12 teams, will help to bridge the gap that exists between elders and the youth so that they should understand each other through interaction.
During the launch match that saw home side Bangwe Select beating Machinjiri Select 2-1 at Desert ground, over 60 elders and prominent soccer officials, including Football Association of Malawi (FAM) liaison officer James Sangala, Bullets vice-chairperson Sadik Malinga and the team’s supporters committee leader Stone Mwamadi were in attendance.
Leo Mpulula, newly appointed coach of Max Bullets, and Mighty Be Forward coach Elia Kananji were also present to identify talent.
“Football is a powerful weapon in the fight against such abuses as both the elders and the youth are able to meet at matches every weekend and amicably solve their differences and misunderstandings. We need to have a society where everyone is free from abuse,” Osman said.
One of the elders, group village head Mwamadi from Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Blantyre, hailed the competition as something that will be effective in the fight against the abuse.
“Most youths are going astray because they no longer interact with and seek wisdom from us the elders. This competition has created the right forum to share ideas and sort out our misconceptions,” she said. n
