Youth football body AGM postponed

National Youth Football Association (NYFA) has postponed its annual general meeting (AGM) initially scheduled for Lilongwe on Saturday following new government regulations restricting public gatherings to 10 people.

The NYFA AGM would have attracted representatives from affiliates such as regional committees and district bodies, meaning it would exceed the required number.

The body’s acting general secretary Danny Makiyi said they decided to postpone the AGM to a later date following advice from their mother body Football Association of Malawi (FAM).

“We will continue consulting as to when the AGM can be held without contravening the Covid-19 prevention regulations,” he said.

FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda confirmed advising NYFA to reschedule the AGM in line with government’s new Covid-19 prevention regulations.

He said: “They needed our guidance on the matter as their mother body since it is a constitutional requirement for our affiliates to hold the AGMs. But given the circumstances, we have advised them to postpone the general assembly. The restrictions are very clear. They can’t hold a public gathering of more than 10 people. We do not want them to contravene the laws.”

Gunda, however, said they will explore the possibility of NYFA holding a virtual AGM.

“But even the virtual AGM cannot just be held right away. We need to look at whether it is practical to do so considering the technicalities involved,” he said.

One of the key issues at the AGM was election of new office bearers following the resignation of chairperson Chimango Munthali who was elected FAM executive committee member in December 2019 and general secretary Thokozani Chimbali who quit early this year following his appointment as Silver Strikers FC chief executive officer.

Government last week gazetted Pubic Health Corona Virus and Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Management Rules, 2020, banning all public gatherings of more than 10 people.

Breaking the ban of public gathering is punishable by a fine and six months imprisonment.