Football return awaits government’s nod
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Executive Committee meeting held in Salima over the weekend endorsed a Joint committee’s decision to resume football in August.
However, government will have a final say on the resumption of the game as the association will start engaging it on the issue this month.
This comes after the Fam Competitions and Marketing and Fam Covid-19 Taskforce committee recommended that the game resumes in August.
Fam General Secretary, Alfred Gunda said government will have a final say on the resumption of football.
“The Fam Executive Committee resolved to commence discussions with government and relevant stakeholders on the possibility of kicking off the 2020/ 21 season football season in August. During the consultative process that will start in June 2020, Fam will present a blue print to the stakeholders on how football can resume in the safest manner possible mitigate the effects of Covid-19,” reads part of the statement from Fam.
However, it is not clear when teams would resume group training, raising fears that the football fans could wait a little longer to watch the game.
Spokesperson for Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Simon Mbvundula was not readily available for comment yesterday.
Football was suspended in the country on March 20 after President Peter Mutharika declared State of National Disaster, restricting gathering of people to less than 100. However, political parties have defied the order as they are busy with campaign ahead of the June 23 Fresh Presidential Elections.
Be Forward Wanderers General Secretary, Victor Maunde said despite progress being made on the resumption of the game, government should soften up on the safety measures.
“While exercising caution, we should also follow what other countries are doing on the resumption of the game. We are patiently waiting for the government on the issue because the clubs and players have been hit hard by the suspension of the game,” he said.
Nyasa Big Bullets chief administration officer, Albert Chigoga said safety of all stakeholders was important.
“More importantly it is to wait and see what time will teams be given to prepare for the resumption and measures to be effected at all football matches,” Chigoga said.
Other countries in the Sadc region have eased on the lockdown giving hope that football would return soon. In South Africa, government announced the return of contact and non-contract training starting today as they implement level 3 of nationwide lockdown.
Football may return in July in Botswana after government also announced that all sports competitions except football, netball and rugby may resume today without spectators. Burundi became the first African country to resume football last week whereas Angola and Tanzania might follow suit.
In Europe, the English Premier League, Spanish Laliga and Italian Serie A are expected to resume this month while German’s Bundesliga is in progress
