Fam optimistic about beating Mpira Connect deadline
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) is facing a race against time to register all clubs, players and officials from grassroots and professional level with the world soccer governing body-Fifa.
The exercise, Mpira Connect, was supposed to be concluded in October last year but Fifa gave Fam an eight month grace period to register all the teams and players by June 30 this year.
If Fam fails to beat the deadline it will mean that players will not be recognised during local and international transfers.
“The implications are huge but we will try to ensure that none is left behind. That’s why regional coordinators and association officials are being trained. We are working hand in hand with all our stakeholders,” said Fam’s transfer and compliance manager, Casper Jangale.
Jangale said the exercise is aimed at ensuring that Fifa, through Fam, has the database for all football players and officials in the country.
“We encourage clubs and officials to give us updated information so that we do it before the end of the grace period,” he said.
Jangale said Mpira Connect programme will also help clubs get compensation during transfers, allowing a parent club of a player to claim a compensation for any transfer deal.
He said Fam has already registered Super League teams but they were yet to finalise with lower league sides.
Meanwhile, Jangale and Fam competitions director Gomezgani Zakazaka are in Lilongwe doing the exercise with Central Region Football Association (CRFA). The Fam pair is expected to proceed to the Northern region to finalise the project.
