Since gaining an overwhelming majority vote to earn a third term, Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu has been conspicuously quiet, but he claims to be working behind the scenes.
He says he is lying low while implementing his ambitious manifesto.
In an interview on Wednesday, Nyamilandu said he is busy laying structures to fulfil his promises to the nation.
“Sometimes it is good to stay away from the public and concentrate on issues, but very soon you will see me when we start implementing the promises we made,” he said.
Nyamilandu has been missing from high-profile football events, among them, the prize presentation ceremony of the TNM Super League awards, the closing day of the Super League and the launch of the replica jerseys for Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers and Escom United.
He was, however, present during the launch of the Presidential Initiative on Sports (PIS) last Saturday.
“For the TNM Super League closing game and presentation, I was busy with work. I sent an apology to Sulom in good time and delegated my [second] deputy Pikawo Ngalamila. For the merchandise launch, FAM did not get an invitation and for the Presidential Cup, I had no role as our CEO was in the organising committee, but I was there.
“I am quiet, but I am around and doing my job as usual. There is more we are doing behind the scenes now than ever,” insisted Nyamilandu.
He said he is not a failure and will ensure that all the promises he made are fulfilled before he bows out in 2015.
His promises as he sought re-election included ensuring that Flames qualify for next year’s Afcon finals in South Africa as well as the 2015 edition in Libya. He also promised Flames qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Nyamilandu also promised to secure sponsorship for struggling giants Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers as well securing a big-money top-flight competition before the start of the new season due in two months’ time.
“Things are happening behind the scenes, it will be unprofessional to start talking about the progress of securing sponsorship this early, but what I said will happen. The sponsorship deals will be sealed this year.
“For the Flames, we have also drawn up a number of programmes, among them, the training camp in China as preparatory work for the competitions. We are also on the verge of securing a sponsorship deal for the Flames with Malawi National Lottery.
“Other promises are for long-term projects such as infrastructure and youth development which you cannot expect to be in just three months, but you will see lots of progress by the end of the year,” he said.
