By Peter Kanjere
When it comes to Malawi, Madonna does not shy away from making promises.
And the latest is that she looks set to build a football academy in the southern African nation and the country’s Football Association is ecstatic.
Madonna, who is in the southern African nation, said on Monday she would in future establish a football academy in Malawi after being inspired by the talent of her adopted Malawian son, David Banda, who is on the books of Benfica Academy in Portugal.
The pop star is becoming increasingly passionate about football she is reported to have found a new home in Portugal so as to be close to Banda, who has shown football potential at the academy.
The FA were expected to meet Madonna’s delegation yesterday to drum up support for the American pop star’s ambition to establish a football academy in the country.
FA president, Walter Nyamilandu, said they jumped at the opportunity after Madonna spoke about the academy project on Monday when she, alongside her six children, visited the Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.
“Our team is in touch and a meeting has been arranged this evening [yesterday] with them in Lilongwe. We have responded swiftly to their call which was made today [yesterday]. We are hoping to unearth more talented players like David in the process,” he said.
Nyamilandu said such an academy could help fast-track talent development efforts that are let down by lack of structures in Malawi.
“We are very excited with this window of opportunity that has arisen. It would compliment what we have been working on to establish football academies in the country.
“We will be rolling out football academies on a non-residential basis but we need a fully-fledged academy where talented boys and girls can reside and play football while attending classes,” he said.
The last worthwhile academy in Malawi was Surestream in Chilomoni Township in Blantyre but closed shop to end the dream of many boys who were attending classes and learning football.
In four years of its existence, Surestream produced talented players such as Simeon Singa, Mark Fodya, Patrick Phiri, Levison Mwale, Thuso Paipi, Chembezi Denis, Mike Mkwate, Ernest Tambe and Brighton Munthali.
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