PRESS RELEASE ON THE RESOLUTIONS MADE BY THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF MALAWI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HELD ON 9TH JANUARY 2016 AT CHIWEMBE TECHNICAL CENTRE IN LIMBE.
The Football Association Malawi (FAM) Executive Committee meeting which was held on 9th January 2016 at Chiwembe Technical Centre – Conference hall made the following resolutions on some of the strategic matters:-
1. Implementation of the Club Licencing System in Malawi
It was resolved that FAM and SULOM should draw a roadmap on some of the minimum requirements that clubs have to meet before the new season kicks off on 9th April 2016. It is expected that a joint meeting between FAM and SULOM shall take place on 30th January 2016 to draw a roadmap for the implementation of the Licencing System.
The joint meeting will involve:-
i. FAM President
ii. SULOM President
iii.FAM General Secretary
iv. SULOM General Secretary
v. Representative from the National Coaches Association (especially on the accreditation of the coaches).
2. Ticketing and Gate Management.
It was resolved that a Stakeholders meeting should take place before the new season starts, possibly early March 2016, to look at the challenges that the current system is facing including the gate sharing among several stakeholders.
3.Players’ Welfare Trust
The meeting resolved to set up a Players’ Welfare Trust which will assist players in need (in such situations such as sickness and death). It was proposed that a share from the gate gross proceeds will be remitted into the trust. It was expected that a Board of Trustees will be set up and registered and will be composed of different stakeholders who will set up a criteria on how the funds will be drawn from the trust after proper assessment of the needs by the Players’ Welfare Management Committee.
4. Commercialization of FAM’s facilities
The meeting resolved to launch an aggressive and consistent marketing and promotion activities of the Chiwembe Technical Centre through print and social media as well as the existing football contacts. It was also resolved that the facilities at Luwinga in Mzuzu should be hired out through an open and transparent advertising.
This would assist in generating the much needed revenue for the maintenance of the facilities and the two football fields. The meeting also resolved that the remaining 1,400 replica jerseys still in stock should be sold out by among other things opening some sales outlets in the major cities including Chileka and Kamuzu International Airports.The meeting also proposed to fully roll out the Smart Corporate Supporter Initiative including having a ‘Friday Flames Initiative’ for the whole country.
The meeting also resolved that a corporate partner should be secured for the Malawi national football team especially with the existing Airlines after noting that air tickets cost is the biggest on the national team budget. Securing a co-sponsor for the Under-15 domestic regional leagues was high on the agenda after it was observed that the regional leagues are attracting interest from all the districts in the country.
As one way of improving revenue base for the Association and more especially clubs, the meeting proposed for improved and consolidation of the current system of broadcasting rights which included securing a television broadcasting partner for local and international matches before the new season starts.
The meeting also proposed to launch a robust website and social media drive as one way of creating a brand image of FAM. It was further resolved that FAM should introduce quarterly Malawi Mpira magazine and Malawi Football Awards as an annual event. The meeting also agreed that FAM should secure more donor partners in the areas of HIV/AIDS prevention among football players from the grassroots to the elite football and other related national causes using football as a vehicle to spread important information.
The meeting also proposed an introduction of a Charity Shield (to be played by the Super League Champions and winners of Carlsberg Cup / Standard Bank Cup) to be played a week before the new season kicks off. It was also proposed that FAM should engage the football fraternity in charity works including massive tree planting and blood donations drive before the Charity Shield match is played.
5. Grassroots Football Programme (Under-15 domestic regional leagues and Under-14 Mayors Trophy Competitions).
The meeting resolved that the Under-15 domestic regional leagues and the Under-14 should continue being supported and FAM Marketing Sub Committee and the Commercial department were tasked to secure co- sponsors for the two important competitions.
The meeting also proposed for a structural review of the two competitions which should incorporate other key stakeholders such as the National Youth Football Association and MASSA. It was noted that the Under-14 competition and the Under-15 regional leagues were the future of Malawi football and it was important that FAM should source more financial and material support to make the two competitions vibrant and entertaining.
6. Women’s Football
The meeting resolved that Women’s Football Sub -Committee and the National Women Football Association should meet as soon as possible to strategize on the activities for the women’s football in 2016. It was expected that among other key activities would be the setting up of Regional Leagues (for elite teams) and that the FIFA/FAM Cup should be used as a developmental competition (Under-17 and Under-20 teams).
It was also proposed that the Technical Director should arrange a number of Youth Development Programmes for Women football in 2016. The Referees Development Officer was tasked in developing plans and programmes involving young girls in officiating Under-17 and Under-20 matches – a similar programme like in the boys -Under-15 domestic regional leagues.
7. Malawi National Football Team (the Flames) preparations for 2017 AFCON qualifiers
The National Team Coach gave a report regarding the Flames performance for the past five months including his team rebuilding philosophy. He also gave some proposals for the Flames preparations for two back to back matches against Guinea in March 2016. The meeting resolved that the local players – who are on off season should start local camping early February 2016 for fitness purposes. The meeting also resolved that since there was no any other FIFA Calendar date before the Guinea matches, FAM should secure a friendly match en-route to Guinea which will enable the coach to have a full squad that will play in Conakry and in the return match at home. It was also proposed that the national team coach should travel to South Africa to assess some of the players who have not being part of the team for some time.
8. Other Resolutions
The meeting referred to the Disciplinary Committee the matter regarding some individuals who took FAM to ordinary court before the elective General Assembly on 12th December 2015. It was expected that the Disciplinary team will hear the matter after the Extra Ordinary General Assembly in February 2016. The Extra Ordinary General Assembly is expected among other issues approve the new members of the FAM’s Judicial Organs which include ; the Disciplinary Committee, Appeals Committee, Ethics Committee and Arbitration Tribunal.
It was resolved that FAM will hold an Extra Ordinary General Assembly on 20th February 2016 at Chiwembe Technical Centre Conference Hall. The Extra Ordinary General Assembly is expected to discuss the other agenda items which were not discussed during the elective General Assembly which took place on 12th December 2015 at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi.
The meeting resolved that once the financial statements were approved by the Extra Ordinary General Assembly, the (financial statements) will be published on FAM website and copies will be distributed to key stakeholders such Government and football sponsors.
The meeting also noted that the assets base for FAM had gone up and a resolution was made to immediately employ an Internal Auditor who will be working hand in hand with the independent Audit and Compliance Committee.
The meeting also appointed new members in the different sub committees who will assist in the running of the game in Malawi and these committees includes:-
i. Competitions Committee
ii. Technical and Youth Committee
iii. Referees Committee
iv. Security Safety and Crowd Control Committee
v. Legal Affairs Committee
vi. Finance and Administration Committee
vii. Marketing and Commercial Committee
viii. Players’ Welfare Committee
ix. Audit and Compliance Committee
x. Women’s Football Committee
xi. Sports Medicine Committee
xii. Adhoc Committee on the review of FAM Strategic Plan
xiii. Emergency Committee
Signed by: Suzgo Nyirenda Chief Executive Officer/ General Secretary
