Regional leagues not receiving relief packs
Regional football league clubs and players have expressed worry over discontinued receipt of Covid-19 relief packs, saying they are now struggling to make ends meet.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM), unveiled the packs seven months ago and they were supposed to be distributed monthly to regional league’s premier division clubs through Rab Processors Limited subsidiaries Kulima Gold and Agora up to this month.
However, the beneficiaries yesterday said they have not received coupons for the packs in the last two months despite having coupons.
The packs, which contain 10 kilogrammes of maize flour, two packets of sugar, table salt, 200 grammes of soya pieces, two kilogrammes of beans and two bars of washing soap are meant to cushion the clubs and players’ financial distress due to the impact of Covid-19.
About 62 regional league teams nationwide benefited from the initiative with each team getting 30 packs per month for 25 players and five officials.
“As I am talking, I do not know where I will get my meal for today,” said Chilongo Manyozo, player for Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) Premier Division side Chitipa Stars.
“We have been going to Kulima Gold depot with the coupons we got for September, but we are always sent back because they say the packs have not yet arrived. It is a painful experience, but there is nothing we can do.”
Frank Maudzu, general secretary of Mangochi-based Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Premier League outfit MDF Marines FC also said they are yet to get their packages for the past three months.
“In fact, as MDF Marines, we have received packs only three times since the initiative started as Kulima Gold depot mostly tells us that the packs are out of stock,” he said.
SRFA vice-general secretary Kingsley Simbeye and general secretaries for CRFA and NRFA Bernard Chiwiruwiru Harawa and Masiya Nyasulu admitted that their clubs are facing hurdles to access the relief packs.
“We have since written a letter to FAM and Rab Processors on the same issue and we are waiting for a response,” Chiwiruwiru Harawa said.
Rab Processors sales and marketing manager Andrew Lulker refused to comment on the matter and he referred The Nation to FAM yesterday.
FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda, when contated for a comment yesterday, said he was in a meeting.
