MP champions Flames Afcon fundraiser

Kasungu North legislator Mike Bango is expected to move a motion for the creation of a task force to raise funds for the Malawi national football team’s participation at Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals next January.

Bango, a former sports journalist who worked for Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) before joining politics, confirmed the development in an interview yesterday.

He said: “The motion will be tabled on Thursday next week.  This week we are not meeting as a House because we are at cluster meetings.

“But I don’t see the business committee refusing because. I already briefed the leader of the house that I would like to table a Private Member motion for the Flames and the President.”

According to the notice on the private member motion under Standing Order 74 which we have seen, Bango wants President Lazarus Chakwera to create a task force to mobilise resources for the Flames.

Read the notice: “That having noted the financial challenges which the Malawi national football team is currently facing, and moved by the excellent performance of the Flames in qualifying for the Afcon, finals, and in order to encourage and support the players to do even better as the Afcon finals, this House resolves that, through His Excellency the President , task force be formed to coordinate resource mobilization for the Flames to effectively and e3ffeciehntly participate in the Afcon finals.”

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general secretary Alfred Gunda welcome development,  saying the Flames need maximum support from all stakeholders.

Malawi qualified for the finals after finishing as runners-up in Group B alongside leaders Burkina Faso.

The tournament was scheduled for Cameroon, but a Confederation of African Football inspection team has found, Cameroon wanting.

The team said only Egypt and South Africa have capacity to host a 24-team competition on the continent.