Four Nations Tournament participants this morning took advantage of the break between matches to join Lilongwe community in tree planting exercise.
Players, coaches and officials from Malawi, Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe national teams, Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as Lilongwe City Council officials planted over 200 trees along the city’s bypass road.
Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya said they decided to join the tree planting exercise because football has a responsibility of taking care of the environment.
He said: “As you know football is followed by many. And knowing that it has many supporters than any sport or party if I may call it, we thought it wise that we also need to be responsible to our community and one of the things is planting of trees.
“We do appreciate what effort government is doing in tree planting. This is why we said while we are having this Four Nations Tournament, we need to make sure that at least we should skip some hours to plant trees.
“This is also what FIFA is advocating. We have to look after our community. We are making a commitment to say to the country and to the world, to say football can be part of the community and can transform the community where we are living in while also transforming the game.”
Director of Sports Jameson Ndalama said they are excited that the four nations joined hands in taking care of the environment by planting trees.
“The ministry is excited because internationally there is an agenda that the environment is degrading at a faster rate through human and natural activities and therefore there is an international agenda to restore the environment,” he said.
Mayor of Lilongwe City Richard Banda said FAM had demonstrated that it is a responsible association.
“As Lilongwe City Council we cannot do the plating of trees alone. We need the support of everyone. Others sports disciplines should take an example from FAM.”
The Four Nations Tournament wraps up on Tuesday with Malawi taking on Zambia in third place play offs in an early kick off before Kenya and Zimbabwe clash in the final.
Malawi Under-20 already won the Under-17 tournament after beating Kenya and Zimbabwe.
