Sulom opts out
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has resolved not to nominate any candidate for the FAM executive committee elections slated for December 14 in Mangochi.
The nomination process starts today, but the top-flight league governing body, which contributes the highest number of delegates (eight) to the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) general assembly, confirmed yesterday that it will not take part in the process.
Said Sulom general secretary (GS) Williams Banda: “Unless if there is a change, otherwise, the ex-co agreed not to nominate anyone.”
Asked what influenced the decision, the Sulom GS said: “The meeting just resolved as such.”
Meanwhile, as excitement builds up in the run up to the polls, the association’s secretariat will today start receiving nominations from affiliates for candidates that will contest.
FAM GS Alfred Gunda, who is also secretary for the electoral committee, said the secretariat will today circulate notice of the elective general assembly and agenda, including the elections and opening of nominations.
“Nominations start on the date when we are evoking the elective general assembly and that is tomorrow [Wednesday]. I am just finalising the documents to be circulated to all affiliates tomorrow. Therein will be a programme of events from now to the day of the elections on December 14,” he said.
Meanwhile, Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) has said it will nominate FAM vice-president James Mwenda for the position of the association’s president.
“During last elections we were the first to nominate our candidates. This year we will also be the first. As we said earlier, we will nominate Mr. Mwenda for the presidency. We have not changed our stance,” said NRFA chairperson Lameck Khonje.
Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) is yet to make public its choice of presidential candidate, according to chairperson Raphael Humba.
“We will make a decision after all candidates have presented their manifestoes,” he said.
However, SRFA has always aligned itself towards incumbent president Walter Nyamilandu who is seeking a fifth term.
Central Region Football Association (CRFA) has also been mum on its choice.
Apart from Nyamilandu and Mwenda, former FAM vice-president Moses Mkandawire, Karonga United chairperson Alufeyo Chipanga Banda and rank outsider Balawala Vingula are also vying for the presidency.
Chipanga and Vingula yesterday expressed optimism of getting nominated.
“My brother all I can say is that I am upbeat of getting a nomination if the affiliates go by manifesto,” said Vingula.
Chipanga said he represents change Malawians are after; hence, confident that affiliates will do the right thing by nominating him.
“Affiliates know that Malawians want change. I am that change,” he said.
On his part, Nyamilandu said: I can only confirm my nomination after the process has closed. It’s up to the affiliates, without them, I cannot contest.”
Thirty-six delegates from nine FAM affiliates will vote at the elective general assembly.
Sulom will send highest number of delegates (eight) followed by regional associations (six each).
The other affiliates National Women Football Association, National Football Youth Association, National Football Coaches Association, National Football Referees Association and Beach Soccer National Association will each send two delegates.
For a person to be elected president, first vice-president and second vice-president, a majority of more than 50 percent of the votes is necessary while for the four executive members, a simple majority is enough.
