No funding yet, Flames regroup for pride’s sake

With no assurance of funding yet, the Flames will still regroup tomorrow in Blantyre to prepare for their remaining 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu on Thursday conceded during a press conference that push had come to shove, but they have decided against pulling out from the competition for the sake of national pride.

Meanwhile, the association has reduced the budget from the initial K62 million to K50 million.

“We have reduced the budget because the team will camp for five days instead of 14 days. They will camp right here at Chiwembe,” said Nyamilandu.

He said they are hoping to realise K10 million from gate revenue and also negotiate for a K25 million bank overdraft guaranteed by Flames’ official sponsors Carlsberg Malawi Limited.

“Carlsberg offered us a K50 million guarantee from which we got half that was used for the away game against Algeria.

“The anticipated K25 million overdraft and the K10 million we are expecting from gate takings, leaves us with a shortfall of K15 million, which we hope to raise from the corporate world and well-wishers.

“Government, through the Minister of Youth and Sports [Grace Chiumia] is also trying to raise funds and we hope, we’ll be able to fulfil both fixtures,” said Nyamilandu.

The FAM head also appealed to companies to take part in perimeter advertising through 30 boards that are available on the day of the match, saying each board will cost K500 000.

“It is important for us to participate for national pride, our fate is still in our hands and if we can win both games, then we will qualify. Malawi has never withdrawn from Afcon and we are hoping that a silver lining will appear from the dark clouds hovering above us,” he said.

Commenting on the prospective SMS promotion with TNM, Nyamilandu said the deal has been shelved pending some clarifications.