The organising committee of the K60 million (about $359 281) Presidential Football Cup has tossed out prize money for third-place at all levels.
A member of the competition’s desk Casper Jangale confirmed the development on Sunday, saying the committee had to revise the budget to be in line with the activities.
Previously, the third best team in the national phase of the competition was getting K3 million (about $17 964). At regional level, the prize was K100 000 (about $598) whereas at district level, the third-best team used to receive K20 000 (about $120).
“We felt that by scrapping off the third-place prize, we could meet other expenses. Our priority was that we should be able to pay referees and so far we have been able to do that,†said Jangale.
Jangale also said the prize money for the youth champions has also been reduced to K300 000 (about $1 796) from K500 000 (about $2 994).
But Jangale said prizes for the champions and the runners-up at the other levels of the competition remain the same.
National champions for the Presidential Cup get K10 million whereas runners-up pocket half that amount. At regional level, the winners cart home K500 000 with the runners-up getting K250 000 (about $1 497). At district level, the champions get K100 000 whereas the runners-up pocket K50 000 (about $300).
“This followed a concern raised by teams at regional level that they could not be getting the same prize money as the youth teams and we felt it was justifiable,†he said.
The awards of the media at regional level have also been scrapped off.
The development comes in the wake of a recent concern by Football Association of Malawi (FAM) that the K60 million is not enough to develop the sport.
While appreciating government’s efforts to develop football through the initiative, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu asked government to increase the sponsorship if the objective is to be realised.
“The tournament has become bigger than the monetary value attached to it. Government needs to pump in more money next year if the competition is to be relevant to the current economic conditions,†said Nyamilandu.
