FAM labels 2022 as the most successful in history of Malawi’s Football
By Antony Isaiah Jr…..
The Football Association of Malawi (Fam) said the 2022 Football Season which was the third year in the implementation of the Raising the bar manifesto has been successful.
The Football governing body through the President Walter Nyamilandu Manda made the statement on Thursday morning when addressing a press conference on Football Developments at Mpira Village in Blantyre where the association was giving 2022 review and outline plans for 2023 and beyond.
The President said 2022 will go into history as one of the most successful years for the Association- he also said COVID-19 pandemic affected the development of football for two years but Fam managed to recover from its effect though the pandemic decelerate the development of football.
“We worked hard as family to get our plans back to track,” said Nyamilandu. “[In 2022] we achieved an ambition of leaving a mark at the [2021] Africa Cup of Nations by reaching the knock-out stages for the first time in our history.”
The Malawi Flames produced a shocking performance at the delayed 2021 Afcon in Cameroon where they managed to beat Zimbabwe, hold African Champions, Senegal and they lost 2-1 to Morocco in a game that Gabadinho Mhango netted a superb goal- a performance that empowered Flames’ official sponsors, FDH Bank to buy a New Bus for the team.
The appearance fee that the Football Association got from the Caf was shared and 50% was for the players to share while 50% was for the Association.
Nyamilandu added that Flames is still in the contention of qualifying for the 2023 African Cup Of Nations as the team occupy the second place in their group ahead of Egypt and Guinea on goal difference.
“On technical plan, we enhanced the capacity of our coaches with the introduction of Caf B and Caf B [coaching] Courses after a 6-year suspension by Caf.
“We established an organised player identification and nurturing program aimed at producing future quality players through the talent development scheme.
“Our Under 17 girls team won a bronze medal at the Cosafa Championship in its maiden international appearance,” added the President.
In Women’s Football, Nyamilandu said Fam introduced the girls U-17 National team, introduced first ever National Championship and Championed the capacity development of women administrators through UEFA Assist Course,Cosafa Adminstration Course for Women’s Football Administrators.
Not only in the mentioned departments, but also in Youth Football where the Association Strengthened grassroots football with a fully funded U-16 District leagues,First Capital Bank are providing funding to the National Youth Football Association (NYFA) to support league operations and Conducted Cosafa Adminstration Course to Youth Football Administrators.
Commercially , the Football
Established Mpira TV which generated over k103 million. Retained key corporate sponsors,NBS (Charity Shield),Standard Bank (Divisions one teams in three Regional Associations), Managed to collect K125 million from 55 million for gate takings for national teams and Cup Competitions and managed to Secure USD500,000 funding from FIFA Foundations for the rehabilitation of Nsanje Youth Centre.
In Beach Soccer, Walter said the Malawi Beach Soccer Team Qualified for the 2022 Afcon Beach Soccer finals in Mozambique.
