FAM for strong relationship with MASSA

By Edwin Mbewe

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-With an aim of transforming game of football in the country, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has engaged an extra gear and expressed need for the Association to work hard in hand with the Malawi School Sports Association (MASSA) to promote the sport from the grassroot.

The FA has since distributed 8840 footballs to 171 schools as part of the FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) project second phase on Thursday, February 7, 2024.

In his remarks after distributing the footballs, FAM First Vice President Madalitso Kuyera said, the start of the second phase is a milestone in the efforts of transforming the game.

“It’s another milestone after a successful piloting stage last year as we have now increased to 171 new schools from 128. This project has unearthed hidden talent, and we hope we will achieve more than what we have already achieved.

“We believe that in order to transform the game, we need to promote grassroot football and we need to work hand in hand with MASSA so that whatever we have planned can be achieved without facing obstacles. Football alongside education is the great pathway to success, and that’s why we will want to build a very strong relationship with MASSA through a Memorandum of Understanding, which is currently being developed,” said Kuyera.

In reaction to the gesture, MASSA President Blackson Malamula said, he is very grateful for the FAM support and promised to work with the association to develop football in the country.

“We appreciate what FAM has been doing. We have been receiving balls, and on behalf of MASSA and the Ministry of Education. We appreciate how the association wants to develop the game using education,” he explains.

The first phase saw FAM distributing 7000 balls to 128 school; 3000 balls to Under 14 and 16 boys and girls leagues, 40 footballs each to the Malawi Olympic Committee and 40 footballs each to the Six Education Divisions, with the Ministry of Education getting 120 footballs.

In this phase each of the 171 schools will also receive 40 footballs each.

Football for Schools (F4S) is a programme run by FIFA in collaboration with UNESCO, which aims at contributing to the education, development, and empowerment of around 700 million children across the World.

Launched in 2019, the project seeks to promote social activities and offer football content together with life skills to school going children between 4-14 years.