Walter wants Malawi to benefit from Fifa Covid-19 fund

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu says he will campaign that Africa and Malawi in particular, must benefit from Fifa’s plans to create a multi-million emergency relief fund in the wake of the coronavirus.

Fifa is drawing up plans to tap its $2.7 billion cash reserve to create an emergency fund to support the ailing soccer industry.

Faced with mounting concerns and daily updates about the crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic on the global soccer industry, the world football governing body is reportedly drawing up plans for an emergency relief fund.

In reaction to the development, Nyamilandu, whose one of his campaign points as he sought a fifth term last year was to ensure that Malawi benefits from his position as Fifa Council member, said:  “As a member of the Fifa Council, I am in favour of the proposed relief package that Fifa wants to tap from its reserves in support of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

“Though the blue print has not yet been developed, it will make sense if the plight of the smaller leagues in less developed countries is highly considered. I leverage by position and influence wherever  possible so that Africa and Malawi in particular must benefit”

The fund, should global soccer leaders sign off on it, would amount to the biggest response from any major sports governing body to the financial impact of the pandemic.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, TNM Super League clubs have declared themselves to be in a state of financial distress as they are unable to generate revenue through gate takings

But last week, the FAM president said they do not have the capacity to bail out the clubs since it doesn’t have any reserves.

“The onus is on the clubs to determine what and how they manage their activities during this lean period.

“As employers, the Clubs will need to negotiate an emergency Remuneration scheme with the players based on the employment contracts they entered with them. There will be a need for both parties to make sacrifices in order to make ends meet,” he said.