Fifa and Confederation of African Football (Caf) Safety and Security expert Dixon Okello from Uganda will be in the country for a two-day Stewards Trainer of Trainers workshop from Friday to Saturday at Bingu National Stadium.
This is the first time in 20 years an expert will drill domestic stewards despite several shortcomings in crowd control at football matches.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) announced Wednesday on its official website that the work is aimed at creating a pool of local trainers who are expected to be conducting stewardship trainings across the country.
Fam Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the association would like to enhance safety and security, which is a key element in the successful delivery of football matches and competitions.
“It has been over 20 years since an expert came to drill our stewards in the country. Over the years, we have recruited a lot of stewards without proper orientation or training due to lack of expertise,’’ Zakazaka said.
Stewards supervisors from all the stadiums that host elite football and the 16 Super League clubs security officers will participate in the workshop.
Zakazaka said the objective of the workshop is to ensure that Super League clubs have their own stewards to handle security matters during their home matches.
“It is expected that after the workshop, the security officers will lead the process of recruiting and training their respective clubs’ stewards,’’ he said.
Among others, the workshop will focus on stewardship, emergency response procedures and crowd control techniques.
FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Chief Administration Officer Albert Chigoga hailed Fam for organising the workshop.
“This is a great move in the right direction. Security at football venues is important,’’ Chigoga said.
Mighty Mukuru Wanderers Chief Executive Officer Panganeni Ndovi also welcomed the idea.
“There is need to ensure that there is database of those trained and their expectations at football matches should be stressed,’’ he said.
Okello, who was a steward at the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, was recently voted Caf best safety and security officer.
