FOOTBALL Association of Malawi (Fam) has abandoned plans to keep the Malawi NationalUnder-20 active due to financial woes.
Football governing body’s Youth Development Officer James Sangala revealed to The Sunday Times that the players were supposed to be involved in regional friendlies within the country as a means of keeping the team intact but as things stand at the moment, there is nothing that can be organised anytime soon.
Recently, Fam announced intentions to withdraw the Senior National Team from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and the next year’s Africa Nations Championship (Chan) because there is no money.
This, according to Sangala, is likely to also affect the Junior Flames, as it also relies on government for funding. “The team has indeed been inactive since taking part in the 2016 Cosafa Under-20 Championship. Plans to keep them busy were indeed there but for now, all those plans have been put on hold.
“I cannot talk much about the senior team, because that issue is still being discussed and their programmes differ from those of the junior team. However after all is said and done, it all depends on funding,” Sangala said.
He said that Zambia’s recent exploits at the Afcon Under-20 is a wakeup call to Fam. “Our friends are really doing well in developing their game. There senior team won the Afcon in 2012 and now their junior team has just done the same this year. We should not be surprised if they win again in the forthcoming continental showpieces,” he added.
Meanwhile Nothern Region Youth Football Association General Secretary Desire Bellings has said what Fam is doing is simply “killing” the most loved sport in the country.
Although he is no surprised by Fam’s remarks, he said youth football should not be left to suffer a similar pinch, as the future of the national football team relies on today’s Under-20 team.
“They are saying that Malawi will not participate in next year’s Chan and Afcon in 2019. That means players in the current squad will not be part of the team by the time we decide to take part in any competition,” he said.
“If Fam’s sentiments are anything to go by then our football is heading for a complete demise,” he said.
The Malawi Under-20 lost twice and drew once as the team crushed out in group stages at the 2016 Cosafa Under-20 tournament.
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