FPA engages Wanderers players

The Football Players Association (FPA) has stepped up efforts in ensuring that all players register with it to have improved welfare.

The association was formed early this year after reports of destitution among some former and current football players.

After failing to register its anticipated number of players, FPA has decided to be proactive by visiting players at their own clubs to share with them the importance of registering.

The grouping visited Be Forward Wanderers players who were training at Country Club Limbe in Blantyre Tuesday morning.

FPA General Secretary, Ernest Mangani, described the meeting as fruitful as the players appreciated the need to join the association.

Mangani said Wanderers players have shown interest in registering and benefitting from the association’s initiatives.

He said it was pleasing to see the players expressing keen interest in the operations of FPA and asking questions on how to overcome challenges that they face daily.

“I received a phone call from Wanderers’ Team Manager Steve Madeira, asking that we visit them on Wednesday at Limbe Country Club to talk to the players. It was great to interact with them as they expressed themselves in terms of what they are expecting from us,” Mangani said.

Mangani said they are yet to meet Bullets, Civil Sporting Club, Blue Eagles and Malawi Defence Force officials who have also not registered their players.

The Nomads and their arch-rivals Nyasa Big Bullets were in the forefront of opposing an eight percent deduction from gate takings to help FPA in its quest to safeguard the welfare of players across the country.

The two giants argued earlier this month that clubs are struggling financially and need all the money they can get from the gates to sustain their operations.

But after the FPA visit, Wanderers veteran midfielder, Joseph Kamwendo, said it is important to join the football players’ body as it guarantees them a bright future after their playing days.

Kamwendo said it was up to his team’s officials to ensure that the players are well protected by helping them join the association.