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New faces, same problems
I cannot say I always understand what Fifa says but the latest order by the federation that Fam should conduct fresh elections for its executive has baffled me, but that is exactly what my very good friend George Kasakula is addressing in his column. I have to emphasise the very good friend part because our different affiliations on English soccer have been misunderstood elsewhere.
What I have been thinking about throughout this week is whether changes of personality in Fam or any sporting discipline have helped to develop our sports. I have been writing sports opinions over the past decade and although the last two years can fairly be described as Fam’s darkest days, the problems dogging our game have been the same year in year out.
One of the major problems facing sport — and one could extend it to many spheres of Malawian life — is achieving success by accident and not design. We are such a disorganised lot that always acts in a hurry. Everything appears to be an emergency.
Take the Sadc games for example. The games are said to be scheduled for some time this month. But I am told that the Malawi National Council of Sports only told the sports associations last month to start preparations. Again it was only last Friday that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture was meeting the Ministry of Finance to discuss the monetary aspect of our participation
I have also heard that after knocking Uganda’s SC Villa out of the Caf Champions League, Big Bullets started looking for clubs to play as part of preparations for the next round.
The way they did it is like all teams are like those people who were being rounded up in the streets and drinking places of Blantyre — waiting for the next customer. Council, sports associations and clubs need to have calendars that are budgeted for (I talked about this only three weeks ago).
Not everything happens according to plan but I would rather plan for something that never happens than not plan for an event that actually takes place. The Sadc games are supposed to be annual games, those involved should have planned for them in advance!
Bullets knew that qualification for the second round was possible and they wanted it. Tentative plans for friendlies should have been made even before the first game. They are lucky that they have a sponsor with wider interests and would splash money just like that.
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