National Sports

Minister says FAM’s request for extra funding justifiable

 

Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Henry Mussa has said he will support the Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) move to seek extra funding from government for the Flames participation in the 2018 Championship of African Nations (Chan) and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

This follows FAM president Walter Nyamilandu’s admission that they face funding challenges to meet the costs of fulfilling the fixtures having exhausted their K32 million allocation for the current financial year.

“I will do whatever possible to help FAM in its quest to seek additional funding because it is a justifiable cause.

Mussa: They are justified

“FAM has the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development as its parent and have every right to justify and ask for extra funding,” said Mussa.

According to Nyamilandu, apart from government, they are also planning to take out their begging bowl to the private sector.

Apart from the two tournaments, the Flames are also supposed to take part in the Cosafa Castle Cup which is normally held in June.

“Funding is indeed a challenge and we are lobbying government for additional funding. We  have some money that could meet the costs of only one match,” he said

Malawi National Council of Sports executive secretary George Jana yesterday confirmed that FAM already exhausted their allocation.

And asked on the possibility of government providing additional funding, Jana said: “I would not look at it as additional funding per se, but advanced funding.

“But that would depend on the timing of submitting their proposal . They would have to do that early enough to allow for consultations with government.”

Renown soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda said FAM is justified in requesting for more funding from government “because the initial allocation was insufficient anyway.

“Without adequate funding, it means the team cannot prepare well and that would be as good as bidding farewell to Afcon 2019 even before the qualifiers commence.” n

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