NAM has no strategic plan
The Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has emerged as the most high-profile sports body operating without a strategic plan in what could explain the slow growth of the sport despite the Queens’ continental dominance.
NAM is a typical case of how most domestic sports associations run. The nation is searching for answers as to why Malawian athletes are unable to win medals in competitions such as the 2012 London Olympic Games, let alone achieve qualifying time.
NAM president Rosy Chinunda last week admitted that they operate without a plan, but they want to have one “if we are to develop netball at all levels, including introducing beach netball. With a plan, you are able to implement all programmes.”
The absence of the plan is believed to stagnate the Queens for over four years as the world’s fifth-positioned team and Africa’s number one.
NAM has also failed to jump at opportunities such an indoor court which late president Bingu wa Mutharika pledged in 2008 before eventually threatening to withdraw it due to the association’s indifference towards the offer.
Until recently, when they lost Standard Bank sponsorship after being bashed for disorganisation, NAM had no secretariat. The Sports Council allocated NAM an office in Blantyre, but it is not operational.
Coincidentally, the Queens assistant coach Sam Kanyenda last week warned Malawians to forget about the Queens translating their dominance as Africa’s number one to the world stage unless there was a strategic plan.
“The authorities have to develop a deliberate strategy that will see the Queens break into the top-four band. This cannot happen by accident,” said Kanyenda.
Veteran sports administrator and educator Dr. Mark Tembo recently hailed the Hockey Association of Malawi (HAM) as being among a few associations with progressive strategic plans. HAM has construction of an astro-turf at Kamuzu Stadium Upper Ground, which has started, as its main item in the current strategic plan.
Last week, AAM president Dr. Richard Nyirongo claimed that his body has a transitional strategic plan for the first four-year term which “was a clean-up period. We were also waiting for MOC and council’s strategic plans so that ours can also be along those lines.”
Sports Council executive secretary George Jana admitted that they are supposed to enforce that all their affiliates have strategic plans. The Sports Council and the Malawi Olympic Committee operate on four-year strategic plans.
FAST FACTS
—Fifa amends the rules every year.
—Violence has returned to Malawi football over officiation.
—Referee Scova was recently roughed up by angry fans.
