By :Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(Maravipost)-The incumbent Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President Walter Nyamilandu who is seeking re-election in the forthcoming elections last evening launched his manifesto at the Bingu National Convention Centre in Lilongwe.
After the 2019 Raising the Bar manifesto, this year’s blue print is titled “Bridging the Gap which has eight pillars including men’s football, women’s football, Beach Soccer, Youth Football, infrastructure among others.
During the presentation of his manifesto in a fully parked Bingu International Convention Centre, Nyamilandu said it is worth noting that bridging the gap demonstrates that although we realised monumental milestones, he is not contended with the significant strides that have been made hence the hunger for more success knowing that he has not yet realized fullest potential.
” I want to let you know that this manifesto is not mere rhetoric that is geared at winning your hearts by false pretense of deception. The lofty ideas that are contained in the blueprint are realistic given that most of them are work-in-progress while some of them hinge on the backing of local and international partners that I have already secured. Secondary, this manifesto is founded, but it is evidenced based having conducted a quantitative survey to ascertain the views of people about the gaps of Malawi football. In other words, this manifesto reflects the voice and aspirations of the football loving Malawians,” Nyamilandu narrated.
As per Nyamilandu the agenda of Bridging the gap is to benchmark Malawi football with the best in the world by setting high quality standards and embracing the best practices on how to effectively administer and develop football to its fullest potential.
The campaign also seeks to unlock our potential and unleash our capabilities to achieve excellence and greatness in football by being player-centric, talented-driven, and business-oriented.
In expounding the pillars, the incumbent Football association of Malawi President Walter Nyamilandu revealed that, he will increase grants towards elite clubs in the Super league from MK5 million to MK25 million in 2027.
To boost incentives for the clubs by stipulating minimum sponsorship values like;MK300 million) with minimum prizes as follows; 1st Prize MK100 million, 2nd MK75 million, third MK50 million and fourth MK25 million.
He added that he will downsize the number of clubs in the league from sixteen teams to twelve and standardize the numbers in the regional leagues to reduce costs and enforce competitiveness.
He also promised to improve the infrastructures such as, constructing a 40,000-seater stadium in Blantyre which will have inbuilt Volleyball, netball, basketball courts and athletes running track saying the discussions are at advanced stage with investors, moving FA headquarters from Chiwembe to the capital Lilongwe. In addition to that, Manda plans to build a five-star hotel in Lilongwe which will help the association in fundraising.
On Youth football, he intends to introduce Schools leagues worth beyond MK100 million. To increase sponsorship towards youth leagues from MK80 million to MK200 million by 2027 to reinforce under fourteen, under seventeen and under nineteen competitions saying youth football remain his priority with the view to lay solid foundation for football to flourish.
The football association of Malawi (FAM)elective general annual meeting is slated for Mzuzu on 16th December 2023 and Super League of Malawi President Fleetwood Haiya is challenging the incumbent FA President on the FA’s top seat.”