Fam rewards Under-20 players

BY RONALD MPASO:

They may have failed to qualify for the Niger 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals at the last hurdle but that did not stop Football Association of Malawi (Fam) from rewarding the Malawi under-20 national football team with full match bonuses.

The junior Flames lost 0-2 to South Africa on Saturday at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe after forcing a barren draw in Rustenburg in the first-leg of the third and final round.

But, according to Malawi Team Manager Aubrey Nankhuni, Fam officials, led by President Walter Nyamilandu, thronged the team’s dressing room after the match and promised them full match bonuses for the drawn match.

“It was very encouraging to see the Fam president and his delegation coming to congratulate the players for playing well despite the loss.

“The president told the players that he had never seen a junior national team play that well before. He then pledged that the players would get full bonuses for the first-leg draw against South Africa,” he said.

Nankhuni said Nyamilandu also promised to identify international tournaments for the team to ensure that it remains active.

He said the players had also been allowed to keep their training kit as souvenirs.

Fam General Secretary, Alfred Gunda, confirmed that Nyamilandu had indeed led officials to the team’s dressing room to encourage the players after the match but declined to give more details.

“I am not aware of whatever was said in the dressing room because I was not there. But what I know, for sure, is that there is the Cosafa Cup later this year and we will put everything in place to ensure that the team prepares adequately,” Gunda said.

Junior Flames captain, Charles Thom, said the players were, indeed, promised full bonuses and allowed to keep the training kit which is normally returned.

“We were also assured that Fam will keep the team together. We did not expect the officials to visit us after the loss. We are very motivated and encouraged,” Thom said.