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Some sports associations have suggested direct funding from government instead of going through Sports Council saying the current system affects their planning.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam), Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) and Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) said this week they have problems in planning their activities because funding from government is released late and in bits and pieces though the Council.
Fam president Walter Nyamilandu said: “We don’t get the money directly, government channels it through Sports Council and that is why we always have problems in planning for things like trips and preparations for international games.
“A good example was the Tunisia game. If we had the money well in advance, we would have planned properly for the trip which took the national team over 30 hours ahead of such a crucial game,” said Nyamilandu.
The Fam boss also said the association would have found ways of investing the money like opening a fixed deposit account.
“But as it is, we don’t have control on the funding, we don’t see the money and it is Sports Council that makes interests on our money,” said the Fam president.
AAM general secretary Haxon Chapasa shared Fam’s view saying in other countries sports associations get funding from their respective governments directly.
“Direct funding would help associations to plan properly other than the current scenario whereby it is not easy to get the money from Sports Council.
“There are times when we fail to have proper preparations because we always get funding late but having said that let me also add that associations would be required to be transparent and accountable since it is government money,” said Chapasa.
The AAM spokesman added: “I think it would help because we would be able to know what we have and plan for activities.”
Nam president Theresa Walamwa also shared the sentiment saying it could be the solution to problems that associations face as regards to their respective activities.
“For example we have always had problems in planning for international tournaments because we are always in doubt regarding funding from government so I think its an issue that government has to seriously consider,” said the Nam chief.
However, Sports Council executive secretary George Jana brushed aside the associations’ claims saying the fact that government channels associations’ funding through the Council does not mean that his office keeps the money.
“The associations should not have the misconception that we keep their money. For example when we say government has allocated K15 million for football it does not mean that we keep it in our account.
“What happens is that when Fam needs the money for an international game, we forward the budget and then government releases the money,” explained Jana.
The Council boss also said the associations claim that they fail to plan properly because they do not get funding in advance does not hold water.
“You never move forward if you are going to operate on the basis of how much money you have. You can still plan properly without necessarily having the money...you work on assumptions,” said Jana.
Sports minister Henry Chimunthu Banda said his ministry is currently discussing with the Treasury that grants for associations and Sports Council’s funding should be a separate entity altogether.
“The current situation is that the Council gets a lumpsome which includes money to run the Council board as well as its operations and grants for associations but at the end of the day the running costs of the Council have to be there and what suffers are grants to associations.
“But we will now be presenting budgets from the Council as well as associations separately. The discussions are still underway,” said Chimunthu Banda.
However, the minister said as per Sports Council Act, associations will still be getting the money through Sports Council.
“It cannot go directly to the associations because legally government can only go through Sports Council, the law that was legislated in 1974 only gives recognition to Council but if government wished to fund the associations directly, then that can be looked into,” said Chimunthu Banda.
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