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The Football Association of Malawi (Fam)’s affiliates, who are mobilising themselves for an urgent indaba to discuss the problems rocking Fam are in shambles themselves, Nation Online has established.
The problems in the affiliates are so serious problems that they need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Topping the chart is Central Region Football League, (CRFL) formerly LDFL, which has been hit with both financial and administrative problems. The league is failing to kick of its new season because of an outstanding debt totalling over K100,000 to the Central Region Referees Committee which has vowed never to officiate the league’s games unless the dues are settled.
There are also confirmed reports of financial misappropriation by one of the league’s officials (name withheld). The official was asked by his fellow executives and clubs to pay back the money, which, according to an audit conducted by the league is in excess of K80,000.
As if that is not enough, the league does not have any leader following the appointment of its former chairman McCollins Chibvunde into the Fam executive and the departure of Chibvunde’s vice Major Andrew Banda, who is on tour of duty in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The National Referees Association (NRA) is another body. A few months ago, the body announced the suspension of its boss Charles Kafatiya but the punishment never stood as executive members failed to speak with one voice. The referees body has been operating without a vice chairman since the death of Edson Chalenga.
There have also been serious differences between Kafatiya and members from the Centre, who recently clashed with referees from Mzuzu in Dwangwa after Kafatiya had ordered refs from the North to cross regional borders and handle games at Chitowe Stadium.
The Blantyre and Districts Football League now Southern Region Football League has not been spared. It’s boss Francis Onions has gone into full time politics and his replacement is yet to de identified.
Malawi Football Coaches Association is another controversial body. During the Mzuzu elections, the body had candidates Yasin Osman and Peterkins Kayira both eyeing the Fam second vice presidency position. After a serious argument, a coin had to be tossed and Peterkins Kayira stood.
Another member from the body, Thom Kazembe stood for the position of executive member only to withdraw during the race after observing he was getting little support from his fellow coaches.
He got a meagre three votes after the first round of voting and announced his withdrawal just before the second round.
Members from the affiliates have admitted the problems but they have different opinions on where the clean-sweep should start from.
“It’s true we have such problems in the affiliates but you can’t tell the affiliates to go for elections, when the Fam house is not in order. We only have six members in Fam, who will preside over the affiliates elections if the ten bodies go for polls.
If elections start in the affiliates, what shall happen do the positions that may fall vacant after some members from the affiliates have taken over positions in Fam. Should the affiliates have other elections? Kayira queried.
But Northern Region Football League chairman Julius Mithi preferred to see elections starting in the affiliates. “If we want to clean Fam, we have to start with affiliates so that credible people go into Fam. Most of the people we have in the affiliates have no vision. They are not conversant with football and all they want is to eat money.
That is why there were unholy alliances at the Mzuzu AGM. Fam should stick to its guns that affiliates should hold elections before the mother body can call for its AGM,” said Mithi.
Fam’s spokesman McCollins Chivunde said the association had planned a meeting with heads from the different affiliates to discuss all pressing issues.
Meanwhile, the meeting called by MFCA to discuss the problems in Fam has failed after some affiliates expressed reservations with the date. Kayira said the meeting might take place next week.
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