London Games Organising Committee (Logoc) has allowed Malawi Paralympics Committee (MPC) to replace disqualified athletes for the International Paralympics Games starting at the end of this month.
But MPC faces a new challenge of lack of funds for processing passports for the new squad by next Thursday.
Few months ago, Central Region Football League chairperson Dean Josiah-Banda gave MPC K120 000 (about $480) for passports for the selected eight partially blind athletes, but Logoc has advised MPC to replace the squad with completely blind athletes; hence, the need for extra funds.
According to MPC coach George Luhanga, this is a rare favour.
“They have set next Thursday as the deadline for us to process the travelling documents for the new squad. Considering the time, we will only send Chisomo Germani and Janet Shadan, but we will need at least K60 000 (about $240) from well-wishers for processing their passports,” said Luhanga.
Meanwhile, MPC, which is struggling to find funds to organise a residential camp training for the athletes, has taken advantage of the first week-long Zone V1 Games camping at the Sports Council in Blantyre to polish up Germani and Shadan ahead of the London Games.
Logoc will pay for the return travel and accommodation for the athletes and their two guiders, Chiyembekezo Jamali and Faith Labana.
The International Paralympics Games will run from August 27 to September 8.
