Businessman joins Fam presidency race
Businessman, Ali Mwachande, has declared his intention to contest for the position of president at the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) elections scheduled for this December.
Mwachande, who also works as finance and administration manager at Manalera, said even though he has little experience in football management, he has what it takes to contribute to the development of football in the country.
He said he has been working with Malawi Olympic Committee (Moc) in the last few years to promote sports and he managed to secure $20,000 (K8.5 million) sponsorship from a Kenyan-based organisation, Cuaha, to run a football competition in Balaka.
Mwachande said once voted into power, he would ensure that Fam becomes a vibrant organisation in terms of resource mobilisation.
“I believe there is need for serious investment for Malawi football to grow. I will make sure that organisations and the private sector invest in Fam. Fam in turn has to make big investments so that it should not only rely on government to implement its programmes. Football has to be run as a business therefore, there is need for serious investment. Currently, our football is run at an amateur level,” he said.
Mwachande also said he would introduce strategies to ensure that Super League teams have better financial resources.
“Currently, players earn less therefore, they easily become destitute after quitting the game. I will mobilise resources for the clubs so that we should improve the standard of our football. It is my dream that Malawian football players should be the envy of the rest of the African countries. I will make sure that their welfare is secured,” he said.
Mwachande added that he would work with Fam’s affiliates to revamp district leagues which, he observed, had ‘died a natural death’.
“The district leagues are crucial for developing grassroots talent that could contribute to the national team. In the past, district leagues contributed players to the national team. A good example is Gerald Phiri who used to play for Maldeco Fisheries and then he became one of the top players in the country. I will find funding for the district leagues,” he said.
“Apart from that, I will introduce measures to ensure that we maintain the talent that we have. I will unveil my full manifesto after consultations with the affiliates. I believe that we all have to work together to develop football.”
The 35-year old Mwachande is expected to run against the incumbent president Walter Nyamilandu who last week announced that he would seek re-election
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