Walter joins race

It is now official. Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu  has finally  come out of his cocoon and declared that he will seek re-election at the association’s polls in December. 

The announcement is a U-turn to his earlier decision to bow out at the end of his 15-year reign.

Nyamilandu, who is a Fifa Council member, is expected to face his first vice-president and confidant-turned-nemesis James Mwenda who declared interest to contest in his boss’ position in July, Karonga United chairperson Alufeyo Chipanga Banda and former FAM first vice-president Moses Mkandawire.

But all the aspiring candidates will have to be nominated by FAM’s nine affiliates and also fulfil the association’s requirements for their names to appear on the ballot.

Announcing his decision to seek a fresh mandate, Nyamilandu said in a statement that he was compelled to make the U-turn  after being approached by the affiliates.

“I have received overwhelming support and encouragement from members of the affiliates to stand again owing to the remarkable achievements that have been realised while I have been at the helm of office. I, therefore, cannot ignore the affiliates who have shown significant trust and confidence in me as the best candidate,” reads the statement in part.

Nyamilandu also said his stay in office at Fifa Council and FAM need to run simultaneously for the country to benefit through football development.

He said: “I believe that it is now time for the entire football fraternity to reap the fruits of my appointment as a member of the Fifa Council. Under the circumstances, it is only logical that while I am serving as a member of the Fifa Council, my stay in office as the president of FAM should simultaneously run together so that the country can fully maximise the benefits of my membership to this supreme body.

“It is also paramount to mention that in the unlikely event of not being FAM president, it would water down the relevance of being a Fifa Council member by virtue of not having a constituency to represent. The result of which is that you lose bargaining power that would have been instrumental in influencing and shaping the development of football at all levels,” he said.

Nyamilandu also said he would like to complete unfinished projects which are already underway as stipulated in his 2015 Harvest Time manifesto.

“I am in a better and stronger position than ever to undertake projects of this nature while serving as a member of the Fifa Council, drawing from the new connections that have been carved on the international platform. Not to mention the vast experience and knowledge gained while serving as FAM president, which puts me in good stead to transform the game of football in Malawi and take it to a new level,” he said.

Mwenda yesterday declined to comment on his boss’ decision to seek re-election.

But in July Mwenda indicated that he expects tough opposition in the December polls.

 “It’s a competition and you don’t underrate anybody,” he said.

Flames legend turned analyst Peterkins Kayira, who had been agitating for Nyamilandu to declare his stand on the issue, said now that he has finally come in the open, it is time for all aspiring candidates to tell the nation their agenda.

“It’s good that he has come in the open to end the speculation. What is expected is that all aspiring candidates should state their agenda,” he said.

However, Kayira noted that getting a nomination will be tough for the aspiring candidates.

Nyamilandu was first voted into office in 2004 in a by-election to replace Sameer Suleman, who lost the position after failing to fulfil a FAM constitutional requirement to have a Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) certificate.