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Malawi barred from All Africa Games again

The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports has quietly decided against sending a sports team to 2015 All Africa Games scheduled for Congo-Brazzaville this September amid reports that government owes organisers millions in affiliation fees.

Sources told Weekend Nation that the team would be ineligible to compete due to Malawi Government’s habitual failure to pay the fees estimated at over K10 million ($22 222) owed to Supreme Council of Sports in Africa (SCSA).

To miss out at All Africa Games: One of Malawi’s top swimmers Joyce Tafatatha
To miss out at All Africa Games: One of Malawi’s top swimmers Joyce Tafatatha

The games are the biggest continental multiple sports competition. Malawi was also barred from the 10th edition of the games held in Mozambique in 2011 over accumulated fees of $60 000 (K27 million). Malawi team was denied entry into the games village in Maputo.

Annual affiliation fee is reportedly $3 500 (about K1.5 million). SCSA could not be reached for comment, whereas Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) executive secretary George Jana, whose office has until this month to confirm Malawi’s participation, referred questions to government.

The council is at the centre of preparing for such games alongside the Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) whose president Oscar Kanjala confirmed that government informed them that Malawi team will not travel to Congo.

“In Africa, we use these games as a stepping stone for big events,” Kanjala said when asked about the importance of the games.

Sports Ministry’s sports director Jameson  Ndalama, after being contacted several times during the week, eventually on Thursday confirmed that Malawi team would not participate in the games to run from September 4 to 19.

“There has been no clear planning on the part of the local organisers probably because there are financial challenges in the country. It is not about non-payment of fees. Even if you have not, you can still travel and pay while there,” Ndalama claimed.

Swimming is one of the acquatic sport codes that had hoped to send athletes to Congo. Malawi Acquatic Union (MAU) president Dean Pinto blasted government for keeping swimmers, who have been preparing for the games, in suspense.

“Malawi Aquatic Union is disappointed that for the second successive time Malawi has not been able to send athletes which include swimmers to the games,” said Pinto, whose swimmers are on a continuous training programme designed to win medals at major events such as 2016 Olympic Games.

“It is an embarrassment that authorities must take responsibility. These are semi-developmental games and provide the link between major international events like Olympics. Malawians are hard done by and have been grossly let down and do not deserve this.”

There is exposure and medals at stake at the games which involve Under-23 athletes. Malawi, who won bronze through the Flames in 1987 games held in Kenya, was free to send athletes from all sport codes.

Elsewhere, Ghana’s participation in the games is also doubtful for also non-payment of such fees. However, Nigeria will participate and they are targeting winning 62 medals while Uganda is sending an 86-member delegation.

South Africa are overall defending champions based on the aggregate medals they won across the disciplines in Mozambique during the 10th edition.

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