Queens allowance hike won’t be implemented

NAM has said Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana’s directive to double Queens’ game bonus to K30 000 (about $75) might not be implemented due to tight budgetary constraints.

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda was responding to a question whether the bonuses will be hiked considering that NAM’s annual funding from government has been maintained at K30 million (about $75 000).

“It will be difficult to review the allowances because what we have been allocated is by far less than the proposed budget.

“These are some of the challenges we face, and perhaps the increase will just be minimal,” said Chinunda.

Apart from the Queens game bonuses, Chihana also promised NAM a permanent coaching panel.

“That is also another challenge. We will have to court the ministry and Sports Council to see what we can do because that was also included in the budget,” she said.

Chinunda said the priority is to embark on developmental projects such as training umpires and coaches.

“Our target is to reach out to the schools as well as develop the game from the grassroots.

“Apart from that, we have a number of international competitions that we are supposed to participate in such as Cosana Senior and Under-21. The senior team is also supposed to travel to Australia and New Zealand in October this year and we are supposed to raise at least 50 percent of the costs,” said Chinunda.

Asked what the association is doing on its own to supplement government funding, Chinunda said: “We have come up with a marketing drive and all that remains is to put up an aggressive committee in place. We hope to raise funds from that exercise.”

But Chihana said he expects his directive on the Queens game bonuses to be implemented because it was factored in their budget.

“Funding can never be enough and that is why we ask them to priotise their activities and also make efforts to generate their own money.

“It is only in Malawi where associations such as FAM and NAM sorely depend on government. In countries such as South Africa and Botswana, they have sponsors for national teams; be it netball and football. Why can’t it be the same here?

“So, my position is that the decision to hike the bonuses will stand,” said Chihana.