Beach Soccer Association taken to task over annual general meetings
The Beach Soccer Association (BSA) is under heavy criticism from its member associations for failing to hold annual general meetings (AGMs) for close to three years.
The last time the committee held the AGM was on July 25 2020 in Mangochi District.
This has not amused some of its member associations, who are demanding answers on the matter.
Chintheche Centre General Secretary Lupakisho Simwera said failing to hold an AGM was a corporate governance matter.
“It is a serious issue which needs urgent attention. The association keeps on changing goal posts on the issue. We are slowly losing hope that the AGM will take place,’” he said.
The association was involved in turmoil in 2020 after the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Disciplinary Committee nullified the elections.
However, after a long battle, the Fam Appeals Committee overturned the Disciplinary Committee’s decision and validated the elections.
Central Region Beach Soccer Association official Peter Lipikwe said they are waiting for the AGM.
“This is a constitutional matter. We believe they are mobilising resources for the meeting,’’ Lipikwe said.
However, BSA Chairperson Gift Chimbalanga has attributed failure to hold the AGM to lack of funds.
“Let me assure the member associations that, this year, we will hold the meeting. We know it is a constitutional matter and are obliged to follow it,” Chimbalanga, who replaced Kondwani Gondwe in 2020, said.
Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda said there are issues to be considered.
“We have to consider several factors including Covid. The sport was not spared from the pandemic and there were no activities in 2021. But we expect them to hold the AGM this year,” he said
The sport was introduced in Malawi in 2007. Malawi Beach Soccer National Team took part in the 2022 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) held in Vilankulo, Mozambique.
The team finished on position six after losing all the three matches to Mozambique, Morocco and Uganda.
