National Sports

Sports Minister tells FAM to shut up

Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana on Wednesday said it is high time FAM stopped blaming government for its problems.

The minister, who has of late kept a low profile, accused FAM of lacking planning in their operations.

“What I am saying is that the culture [by FAM], in particular, to blame government for every problem should stop.

“Government has limits on its operations and we operate on programmes that are given to us by Sports Council and FAM.

“If they would give us a strategic plan for five years, we would be guided by that and not just wake up and start blaming government for every problem that they have.

“Our responsibility is not running football, it is to formulate policy to create a conducive environment for sports,” said Chihana in a telephone interview.

He also said over many years, government has tried its best to fund football, regardless of difficulties in the economy.

Chihana cited the way FAM engages coaches as one of the issues that exposes its glaring shortcomings when it comes to planning.

In an earlier interview on Wednesday, FAM president Walter Nyamilandu said submission of a budget, which they normally do, is part of planning.

“We have a strategic plan in place with a vision and mission statement. There are objectives that are well spelt out and strategies on how to achieve them—issues of friendly games, overseas camping and right coach, now for us to achieve that, it requires money.

“A plan is meaningless without resources and those resources have never been provided. Why can’t they fund us fully?”

But when he was contacted later for further comment, the FAM president simply said: “I reserve my comment.”

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